#breaking records. with nONE of the security that joe has | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

mariacallous · 11 months ago

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The Republican Party platform, released ahead of this week’s Republican National Convention, contained many capitalized words—“American Patriots,” “Migrant Invasion,” “God’s Good Grace”—but none of them were “Taiwan.” It was a striking departure from the party’s track record of support for the island and left many guessing where former U.S. President Donald Trump stands on Taiwan heading into a potential second term.

Trump filled in that blank on Tuesday with characteristically blunt comments published in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek.

In the interview, conducted in late June, he cast doubt on future U.S. support for Taiwan. Asked whether the United States would come to Taiwan’s defense in the event of a Chinese attack, he answered rather elliptically, saying, “Taiwan. I know the people very well, respect them greatly.” He then added, “They did take about 100% of our chip business,” referring to high-end semiconductors, the vast majority of which are currently made in Taiwan.

Trump went on to suggest that the answer would be conditioned on whether defending Taiwan would be a good deal economically for the United States. “Taiwan should pay us for defense. You know, we’re no different than an insurance company,” he said. “Taiwan doesn’t give us anything.”

Taipei’s representative office in Washington defended the island’s own efforts in a statement to Foreign Policy, saying, “As the threat of military coercion increases, Taiwan is doing its part by actively strengthening deterrence capabilities with the support of the United States under the Taiwan Relations Act.”

Trump’s comments undoubtedly set off new concerns in Taipei, but he has made statements in a similar vein over the past two years.

In an interview with Fox News last summer, he said, “Taiwan did take all of our chip business,” when asked whether the United States would protect the island. And in several interviews in recent months, he has stuck closer to the traditional U.S. position of “strategic ambiguity” on defending Taiwan (unlike U.S. President Joe Biden, whose administration maintains an official policy of strategic ambiguity but who has personally said on numerous occasions that the United States would defend Taiwan).

Like his recent comments, Trump has framed strategic ambiguity in transactional terms. In an April interview with Time, when posed the typical question about defending Taiwan, he said, “I wouldn’t want to give away any negotiating abilities by giving information like that to any reporter.”

While Trump’s latest remarks aren’t new per se, as his poll numbers climb higher and the November presidential election draws nearer, they highlight a critical open question: What might Trump’s approach to Taiwan look like in a second term? The answer hinges on whether Trump’s own America First mentality would dominate over the agenda of the China hawks in his national security orbit who are staunch defenders of Taiwan.

Looking back to his presidency offers some clues. Trump was inconsistent on Taiwan—he famously took a call from then-Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen as president-elect, breaking long-standing U.S. norms. But then he quickly tacked back to the typical U.S. talking points, recognizing the so-called “One China” policy in a subsequent call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Many of his top foreign-policy advisors were China hawks and Taiwan supporters, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; National Security Advisor John Bolton; Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger; Peter Navarro, the director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy; and Randall Schriver, the assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs. During the course of his administration, they successfully pushed for more support for Taiwan, including the sale of F-16 fighter jets to the island, previously deemed to be too controversial. And at the very end of Trump’s presidency, Pompeo went as far as to cancel the rules barring direct communication with Taiwan.

“I think in the first term, you had a lot of people around Trump who were friendly with Taiwan [and] very skeptical about China,” said Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. “It’s not clear, though, that that was Trump’s own personal view.”

Trump’s national security team in a second term would likely be more mixed on Taiwan, as several of those former key players have since distanced themselves from Trump, including Bolton and Pottinger. Voices such as Elbridge Colby, a principal at the Marathon Initiative and former Trump official who is thought to still be in Trump’s good graces, have called for a pivot from Ukraine to Taiwan, while others may fall closer in line with the Trump isolationist impulse.

“I think that’s the core tension within the Trump circle,” Cooper said. Which direction the administration might swing depends on Trump himself and his level of involvement. Trump has already proposed launching a new trade war with China, and he is likely to be very involved in shaping economic policy toward China overall, but it is unclear how directly he would engage in Taiwan policymaking.

If Trump’s own views were to prevail in a second term, Taiwan would likely be in for a rocky four years trying to prove its worth to the president. “Contrary to what some analysts argue, there isn’t an Indo-Pacific exception in Trump’s version of ‘America first,’” Hal Brands, a political scientist at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, argued in a recent essay in Foreign Affairs.

Under the Trump-centric Taiwan foreign policy, several scenarios could unfold. On defense, Trump spoke critically of Taiwan treating the United States like an insurance company in his conversation with Businessweek, but his comment that Taiwan “should pay us for defense” suggests he may mostly be interested in securing a higher premium for U.S. support.

What kind of payment would Trump be looking for? During his presidency, Trump called for South Korea and Japan to cover a much higher share of the costs for U.S. bases in both countries, but very few U.S. troops are stationed in Taiwan. Taipei already buys billions of dollars’ worth of weapons from Washington, but Trump might consider cutting off new foreign military aid to Taiwan approved under Biden. He would also likely push for Taiwan to increase its military spending, up from 2.6 percent of its GDP today, as his former National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien suggested recently.

On chips, the Taiwanese government has pushed back on Trump’s claims of unfairness. In an interview with Foreign Policy this month, Alexander Yui, Taiwan’s representative to the United States, said, “Between Taiwan and the U.S., we’re partners in terms of that industry. … The United States is very good at chip design, and we’re very good at manufacturing.” He also referenced the three massive semiconductor factories that Taiwanese tech giant TSMC plans to build in Arizona.

However, Trump’s repeated comments begrudging Taiwan’s semiconductor dominance suggest that he is unsatisfied with the status quo and may push for more domestic chip manufacturing. “Trump has made it clear—he’s going after chips,” said Jason Hsu, a former Taiwanese legislator who is now an Edward Mason fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. “TSMC could bear the consequences of Trump’s political rhetoric.”

A final scenario that some experts say could unfold if Trump were to dominate Taiwan policy and take it in the most transactional direction is that he could trade Taiwan’s future away in some kind of grand economic bargain with China. The terms of such a deal and its likelihood are far from clear, but experts point to Trump’s past remarks in private diminishing Taiwan’s significance as a sign that such a scenario might be possible.

But Taiwan has some “aces up its sleeve” to head off worst-case scenarios under a Trump administration, argued Craig Singleton, the director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

“Taiwan’s major semiconductor investments in important battleground states, like Arizona, and its substantial military hardware purchases highlight the island’s strategic importance,” Singleton said. “Taiwan also enjoys steadfast bipartisan backing on Capitol Hill, which could prove helpful in navigating choppy diplomatic waters.”

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politijohn · 5 years ago

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Comparing Bernie and Biden

Bernie Sanders supports Medicare for All

Joe Biden does not

Bernie supports a Green New Deal

Biden does not

Bernie plans to expand Social Security

Biden has a record of trying to cut it

Bernie wants to cancel all student debt

Biden wants to cancel none of it

Bernie will enact tuition free college

Biden will not

Bernie wants to end endless wars

Biden does not

Bernie will break up big corporations

Biden will not

Bernie will cancel all medical debt

Biden will not

Bernie will legalize marijuana

Biden will not

Bernie will abolish private prisons

Biden will not

Bernie opposes TPP and Trump’s NAFTA

Joe Biden supports them

Bernie voted against the Iraq War

Biden voted for it

Bernie doesn’t take super PAC money

Biden does

Bernie has a massive grassroots movement

Biden has corporate/elite donors

Bernie will move us to publicly funded utilities

Biden will not

Bernie supports a wealth tax

Biden does not

Bernie aspires to abolish billionaires

Biden does not

Bernie proposed legislation to stop pharmaceutical price gouging

Biden voted against it

Bernie voted against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

Biden voted for it

Bernie voted against the disastrous NAFTA bill

Biden voted for it

Bernie voted against the Patriot Act

Biden voted for it

Bernie supports net neutrality

Biden does not

Bernie voted against the repeal of Glass-Steagall Act

Biden voted for it

Bernie voted against Don’t Ask, Don’t tell

Biden voted for it

Bernie will guarantee paid family leave

Biden will not

#more to come #politics #us politics #government #the left #bernie sanders #bernie 2020 #twitter post #activism #democrats #2020 us election #vote #super tuesday #joe biden

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hauntedfalcon · 4 years ago

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living in midnight

for day four of Nile Freeman Week: "Nile & Struggle" plus a fantasy AU in which superheroes exist, Nile isn't one of them, and she doesn't let that stop her. 1700 words, rated M for swearing. content warning for wounds and needles because it's Nile's turn for sapphic patching up, as a treat

the title is from Lianne La Havas’s “Midnight”. many thanks to @flightsofwonder for beta reading <3

read on AO3 or below

Nile opens her eyes to see an unfamiliar ceiling. There is an unfamiliar pillow under her head, and she is recumbent on an unfamiliar sofa. Above it is a window, where streetlights reflect in the sinuous trails of raindrops.

Rain. Knives. Three attackers. She fought like hell, might have broken someone’s arm, but they landed one good hit. They left her for dead in an alley. She watched her own blood run into a puddle.

She bolts upright--and hisses when a wave of agony breaks over her, starting in her abdomen and shooting everywhere.

“Please don’t move,” says a softly accented voice. “You’re safe here. I haven’t seen your face.”

Nile collapses back down to the pillow and touches her face, just to be sure. Her mask is still in place. She drops her hand and forces one eye open, blurry with pained tears, to get a look at whoever dragged her in from the alley.

A white woman. Dark shoulder-length hair. Youngish, maybe Nile’s age. Dressed all in black, much like her--not for stealth but for soft goth vibes. Cute, if she’s honest, but this isn’t the fucking singles bar, get it together Freeman.

“I staunched the bleeding,” her rescuer says, “but I was waiting until you were conscious to do the stitches.”

“Do we have to?” Nile groans before she can stop herself.

A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it smile. “I’m afraid so. Would you like some fortitude?” The amateur surgeon holds out a bottle of Everclear.

Ugh. Nile takes the cap off and drinks deep, leaving enough in the bottle to sterilize whatever needs to be sterilized. It tastes like ass and lingers at the back of her throat.

Before the alcohol can set in and obliterate her senses, she says, “Can I borrow your phone?”

The woman hesitates. Very wise of her.

“Listen,” Nile says. “We had two leads come in at the same time. Al-Tayyib took one and I took the other, and mine was a decoy, which means...” She can’t, won’t, say it aloud. She hates how feeble she sounds. “I just have to check in with him. Please.”

The woman hands her a smartphone, unlocked. Nile hits the keycode to make the call anonymous, then dials Joe’s shitty flip phone from memory. He keeps it on silent when he’s on the rounds, and he’ll only answer if he’s safe.

Pick up, she wills him, because if she has to hear his stupid cheerful voicemail greeting now of all times, she’s going to scream right in front of this poor woman who didn’t ask for any of this drama in her life. Pick up, pick up, pick--

“Pronto.”

Nile’s gut tightens (painfully, but that’s not what matters right now) at the sound of another unfamiliar voice. The assassin. Joe walked into a trap.

“Where is he?” she demands, trying to sound hard and not like she’s lying on a stranger’s couch with an open wound.

A gust in the speaker. Is he laughing at her? She strains to hear anything that would give away their location: traffic, a clock tower, machinery, anything. There’s nothing else. No hint of Joe yelling in the background, either.

“I will return him to you presently,” says the asshole. Very formal.

“What, after you shank him like your goons did to me?”

“They were instructed not to kill you,” he says in a voice that wouldn’t fog a window in January. “Did you die?”

White-hot rage flares out of her with no place to go. “Where is he, you son of a--” But he has already hung up on her.

Nile resists the urge to growl. If this was her phone she would throw it against the wall. Instead she quickly deletes the record of the outgoing call, and hands the phone back to the woman, who pockets it. “Thank you,” she says tightly.

“I’m sorry to say so,” says the woman as she holds the tip of a curved needle in a candle flame, “but you are in no condition to save anyone right now.”

She blows out a sigh in answer. When she pulls the hem of her shirt up and peels away the medical tape and bandage pad, she discovers that the woman is absolutely right. This isn’t the worst Nile has been hurt and still fought, but it is pretty bad.

And it’s one thing to trash a gang of traffickers while she’s actively bleeding. It’s something totally different to track down a guy who has been three steps ahead of them this whole time, and seems to have removed his sense of morals with an ice cream scoop.

There’s only one thing left to do: say a silent prayer. The way she learned to pray feels insufficiently casual for the circumstances; she wishes she knew more about the format of the rakat. All she remembers is, “God hears the one who praises him,” so she starts on the Lord’s Prayer because praise comes before petition.

In place of, “Give us this day our daily bread,” she substitutes, “Get Joe out of this with his head,” and then she has to hold back a giggle at the rhyme. She must have lost a lot of blood.

The woman wipes the needle down with Everclear. “You know, I met the old Guardian too.”

Nile eyes her carefully. She won’t say Andy’s name in this woman’s presence. She won’t say Joe’s name either, much less her own. She won’t slip no matter how much blood she’s lost or how strong the alcohol is or how fundamentally good and trustworthy this woman seems or how much this is going to hurt. “Not under the same conditions,” she presumes.

“Very similar,” the woman says with another fleeting smile. “I hope she’s well?”

“She’s good,” Nile hastens to reassure her. “She retired.” And she left Nile her nom de guerre and all the weight that went with it.

“I’m glad she made it that long.”

“Probably thanks to you,” Nile says, and she gets a longer smile for it.

Then the needle bites into her skin and Nile whimpers softly and throws an arm over her eyes. She’s hard. She’s tough. This is what she does.

The woman’s gloved hand pinches the wound closed as she stitches. She works quickly, professionally. “I’m really glad you found me,” Nile manages. “I can’t exactly go to a hospital.”

“I think you would be surprised,” the woman says. “You are well loved in this city. People would protect your identity.”

That’s not it. Nile can’t go to hospital because there’s a chance her mom would be on shift, and the only thing worse than keeping her alter ego secret from her mom is the idea that she would find out because Nile came in on a gurney. She can’t do that to her.

A tug, as she ties the thread off, and then a snip of the shears. Nile lifts her head and looks down at a slightly puckered, neatly stitched, no longer bleeding knife wound.

Her laugh sounds brittle, just this side of hysterical. The woman glances at her. “I have work tomorrow,” Nile says weakly.

The woman tapes a fresh bandage over the wound. “Me too.”

No rest for the righteous. “The struggle is real, huh? Sorry for keeping you up late.”

“I will call in if you do,” the woman offers.

But going into the office in the morning might be the soonest opportunity to make sure Joe is okay. Nile pulls her shirt down and zips her bomber jacket over it. “I should go.”

The woman sets one hand on Nile’s arm. “Please stay. You shouldn’t be out alone tonight.”

“They might have been watching when you brought me inside,” Nile warns.

“Then I will need your protection, won’t I?” the woman says without blinking, as if she’s not the one that just saved Nile’s whole life.

Nile cracks an incredulous smile but the woman just gazes at her solemnly.

“Okay,” she says at last. “Okay, I’ll stay. Thank you. And I’m sorry for bleeding on your couch.”

It’s not enough, but the woman just sets about cleaning up her supplies. Nile settles back against the pillow and wills her muscles to unclench.

“May I ask,” the woman asks as she washes her hands, “why you do this? You don’t have superpowers.”

No, and none of the people who do have taken this city under their protection. Flippant, lazy answers parade through Nile’s mind, because she’s not in a charitable mood. Anger issues. No one else is gonna do it. I’m a giant masochist, actually.

But when she opens her mouth, the first thing that comes out is Andy’s answer, from when Nile asked her years ago. “Because there are people worth fighting for.”

Then Joe’s answer: “People who won’t get justice any other way.”

And, finally, one that’s all hers. “I have a responsibility. This is my city”

She’s going to pass out any minute, but beneath her fatigue there’s still a live coal of the feelings that made her put this mask on in the first place. This is her damn city. She spends so much time in the guts of its shitty justice system, and the rest of the time punching assholes, that she sometimes forgets her city is full of ordinary, decent people. Good people. People who will bring someone in from the rain. People like…

“What’s your name?” Nile asks, and then catches herself. “I can’t--give you mine. Sorry. It might be safer if I don’t know yours.”

“Celeste,” says the woman.

Good people like Celeste. How comforting that is.

Her pain is down to an ache instead of a burn, and her eyes drift closed. In the morning, she’ll be out of Celeste’s hair. She’ll shower at her apartment, carefully, and she’ll go into Legal Aid, and Joe will be there, a little banged up but alive. He’ll hug her, quick and tight, and they’ll loiter by the coffee maker and speak in low voices and sort out their next play. And when the work day is over, they’ll go with Andy and Quỳnh down to Booker’s for drinks and darts, and Nile will order a bouquet of flowers sent to Celeste’s apartment in thanks. Everything, for given quantities of everything, will be fine.

Confident in her safety, secure in her purpose, Nile rests.

#The Old Guard #Nile Freeman #nileweek2021

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imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl · 5 years ago

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Love On-Set (Pt. 08 of 10)

Pairing: Dacre Montgomery X Reader

Word count: 2.8 K

Summary: You knew acting on Stranger Things season 3 would be a challenge, and you also knew, from the start, you'd have to work closely with Dacre Montgomery. But is wasn't a big deal for you, since this is your job and you're determined to act professionally. You had it all figured out, or so you thought, until the moment you were out face to face with Dacre. Then, this job became a lot harder than it was supposed to be, since you can't seem to focus whenever you're around Dacre. And you'll have to be around him a lot until the end of production.

<- Previous part (07)

Next part (09) ->

{Dacre Montgomery Masterlist}

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

Sleep Talking

Giggling, you and Dacre run to the elevator, trying to catch your breaths. “Do you think they'll notice?” You ask as the doors close.

“That we're an hour and a half late?” Dacre asks, sarcastically. “I think they will. Her floor?”

“Nine.” As you speak, you press the button. “Room... 905, I guess. If I'm wrong we'll be in a very embarrassing situation.” With a smile on your lips, you step closer to Dacre, tiptoeing to place a kiss on his lips. His arms holds you close and yours find their way around his neck. “What happened at the end of the movie, by the way?”

“I have no idea. I was too busy making out with this girl, you know.” He smirks, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, really?” You were just about to kiss him again when the usual beep announces you reached the ninth floor. “Work now, kissing later. C'mon.” Taking his hand, you rush to find room 905, knocking softly just in case this is the wrong one.

But your breathe out relieved when Joe opens the door. “Look who finally decided to show up.”

“Good night, Joe.” Ignoring his comment, you walk inside, not letting go of Dacre's hand. Everyone is in position, but they're all turned at you now. “Hey, everyone.”

“Sorry. We're a little late.” Dacre says, guiding you to the middle of the living room, only letting go of your hand when he has to get to his position, next to Max and Dustin.

“Late? You're like–”

“An hour and a half late, yeah.” Cutting Gaten off, you nod. “We lost track of time.”

“That's so sweet,” Millie says, and that's when you notice she was recording this small conversation with her phone.

“Alright, can we resume this? Now that the two lovebirds are here we can get into the action scenes.” Joe claps his hands together, and they start reorganizing the scenario.

The scene they decided to go over is one where Millie will be thrown away, hitting you and making you fall with her, sliding for a couple of feet. So that's what you're into now. You get the sofa pillows and lay it on the floor to break your fall, and the plan is to find the right way to fall without making a mess. When the safety measures are taken, Millie positions herself across the living room.

“Ready?”

“Ready.” You nod, and on the next second Mille starts running, letting herself fall right before you, and she successfully kicks both your feet from under you, dragging you down with her. If it wasn't for the pillows, you both would hit the ground hard. Despite losing your breath, you laugh out loud as you stumble back to your feet. “This scene is going to be so hard to shoot.”

“My butt hurts,” Millie complains in between laughs. “I think I'll try landing on my side.”

“I'll try to hold your waist. So your weight will pull me easily.”

“Alright. Let's go!”

The action is repeated again and again, and you're having way too much fun being dragged down. You managed to hit the floor a few times when Millie pulled some pillow out of their place, but despite some pains here and there, you're fine. Soon after, you follow up with some general markings. Who stands where and who's supposed to run where, and all the interactions you'll have. It's a lot to cover, and you're a little tired, but you fight off sleep, keeping up with their pace.

But when they decide to focus on a particular scene among the kids only, you let yourself fall on the couch, and Dacre comes to sit beside you, an arm around your shoulders.

“Sleepy?” He whispers in your ear, and you snuggle closer to him, your head on his shoulder.

“Yeah, it's late.” Mumbling, you take a deep breath. Sleeping has been a little weird after you shared the bed with Dacre. You keep reminiscing that feeling, and it makes you feel terribly lonely. Cold, even. Sometimes you wonder if he ever feels the same. But you're way too shy to ask him that. “At least we only have to go to set tomorrow evening.”

“And that's why they're planning on doing that all night long.”

“What?” Bursting out, you turn to look at Dacre. “You're kidding me.”

“I swear I'm not.” He giggles at your eye roll. ”Well, it looks like they'll be doing that for a while...” Dacre gestures at the kids, and when you look, they're arguing about something, Noah and Millie with their scripts in hand, pointing at some line. “There's a sofa on the balcony we can use.”

“Please. If I get half an hour of sleep I'll be more than happy.” As soon as you're done speaking, he moves to stand up and you follow him.

“We'll get some fresh air,” Dacre says as he excuses himself, holding your hand as you make your way to the balcony. He slides the door open and gestures for you to walk out first and that's what you do. Dacre is a gentleman, Millie wasn't wrong about that, and the small details always warm up your heart.

You're happy to find that the small couch on the left corner will be shielded from their eyes by the wall. Dacre gently pulls you down when he takes a seat, and you let yourself fall with a deep breath, immediately snuggling closer, your forehead on his neck. “God, I didn't know I was this tired.” You mutter, pulling your legs up and laying them above his. Dacre's hand comes to your thigh, rubbing them softly.

“It's past midnight, I'm exhausted too.”

“Uhm... Let's sleep then.” Your voice is heavy with sleep, and your eyes are already shut.

You both fall into a gentle silence, as you fall into that funny state in between asleep and awake, where you're still somehow a little aware of your surroundings. And that means you know Dacre is holding you, making you smile. It's such an indescribable feeling. The butterflies don't seem to be sleeping at all, they still fly around your stomach, tickling your skin. It's amazing, better than being on LA, lying on the warm sand and watching the waves crashing. It's sweet and secure because you finally found someone who's not scared of what's inside, of confused, unnamed feelings. And you want him, this close, all the damn time.

“It's so weird to sleep without you.” The words leave your mouth, well, you think so at least, as you feel a warm hand rubbing the small of your back. “I feel so cold.”

“Do you want me to sleep with you?” A voice, so familiar and pleasant, speaks on your ear.

“Yeah.” You're quick to answer, the slow and steady movement of Dacre's chest rocking you to sleep.

“Hey!!” A shout makes you bolt awake, sitting up straight with your heart racing as your eyes find Millie, standing by the slide glass door. “Awn, I should've brought my phone. You look so cute.” Her voice softens as you clear your throat and stand up to your feet, still a little dizzy from sleep.

“Sometimes I wonder if your plan is to give me a heart attack.” You mutter, running a hand through your hair. “But let's go now, what's the scene we'll be doing now?”

“None. We're calling it a night.” Shrugging her shoulders, she gestures at the living room. “Almost everyone left already.”

“Oh, that's great!” You breathe out as Dacre stands up as well, taking your hand in his. “As you can see I'm super tired so I'll just head to bed.”

“Alright, but tomorrow at ten be back here,” Millie says as the three of you walk back inside. “I want you to perform the kissing scene.” There's a smirk on her voice, despite her back being turned at you as she makes her way to the door.

“Why?”

“Well, we gotta go over the scenes to make it right, haven't we?” Turning on her heels, she gives you a wicked smile.

“Well...” Mimicking her voice you smirk right back at her. “We have been kissing a lot so we kinda know how to do it, right, Dacre?”

At the mention of his name, he hugs you from behind, arms around your waist. “Absolutely.”

Millie rolls her eyes dramatically. She loves to tease, but she wasn't expecting you to snap back. “Alright, you two. Have a good night.”

“Good night.” Once you reach the hall, you take different directions since the elevator on the East side will leave her a lot closer to her room.

You and Dacre keep a slow pace, and you cover your mouth when a yawn comes. “I'll set my alarm to 9:45 tomorrow. I'll wake up, shower, and head back here.” Running a hand through your hair, you step in when the doors finally open. You both move at the same time to press the button, and Dacre gives you a look when you press 19. “What?”

“I was thinking that maybe we could...” His voice fades as he looks down at his feet.

“Tell me.” Stepping closer, you wrap your arms around his neck. “What were you thinking about?”

“Maybe we could sleep together. Like in the trailer.”

Oh. So he was thinking about that too... Right? Blushing a little, it's your time to avoid his gaze, shifting your weight from one leg to another. “Uhm, I... I would like that, but I'm so tired I don't think I'll be able to chat as we did in the trailer.” That's a stupid thing to say, you know it, but Dacre has this way to make you feel nervous, and you're not the smartest person on Earth when you're nervous. “But... Why this proposition now?”

“You kinda talk on your sleep and–”

“No, I don't.” Cutting him off, you step back, hands on your hips. “I absolutely do not and I forbid you to listen if I ever do, Mr. Montgemery.”

“Been a while since you called me that.” In a quick motion, he ends the small distance between you two, his arms pulling you close and his lips chasing yours. And despite the beep announcing that the doors are opening, you surrender to the kiss, lips moving together, as you both stumble out of the elevator.

“Alright, alright.” You exclaim when your hip hits one of the sideboards scattered around the halls. “Lead the way, Mr. Montgomery because I'm just about to faint of exhaustion.”

And so he does, never letting go of your hand. You can't help but feel a little nervous about this whole thing, almost to the point of finding an excuse and heading to your room. But you try to keep it cool, walking in, eyes immediately falling on the amazing view Dacre has from his balcony. “I'm still envious about the view you have here. It's the best. The only reason why I won't rant about it is because I'm tired.” Ignoring his giggle as he closes the door shut, you start making the way to his bedroom. “But just so you know, the first thing I'll do when I wake up is complain about why my room isn't facing this way. So brace yourself.”

“I would switch rooms with you, if only you ask.” Dacre reaches you when you get to the door, an arm hugging your waist. “Or just...” His voice fades as you both step inside. Turning on your heels, still in his embrace, you try to push tiredness back and understand whatever he means.

“Just what?” You watch as he closes the door silently. Dacre can be shy sometimes, mostly when he doesn't know if you will be comfortable with something, and when it happens, you always make sure to show him you want to know what it is. Even though this is not an official relationship yet, it does feel like it, and you're trying your best not to ruin it. To be honest and make everything work out.

“Maybe you could stay here.” The words finally come out, and you bite your lip as a little battle starts inside your heart. You do want to be around him as much as you can, but maybe it's too soon. Maybe this level of intimacy could break you apart before you even start. “I mean, there is only a couple of weeks left. Only the Battle of Starcourt scenes so... I just thought it could be nice.”

The fact is that you're always either here with him, or he's in your room. You only separate when it's time to sleep, so maybe this makes sense... And if it backfires, it means it was never supposed to be. Your mother told you to be brave, and don't let the anxiety and the habit of overthinking keep you from being around someone you love. “I agree...” Nodding, you look down. “I would be nice. But only–” Walking backward towards the bed, you point out at him. “–if we binge-watch The Office tomorrow.”

“Wasn't the plan to wake up fifteen minutes before ten and rush back to Natalia's?”

“Oh.” It completely slipped your mind. “Then we'll binge watch it whenever we can. Deal?”

“Deal.”

• • •

The Battle of Starcourt is way more complicated than you thought. The fact that you spent a lot of time with the guys preparing for it doesn't help much. James makes several changes and several takes, and more and more days pass by. You've been sleeping on the trailers since it's a lot easier to come and go from the set.

Today, you're super tired, drinking on another RedBull can, hoping it'll keep you awake for a while longer. It's almost three in the morning, and there's no sign of an ending in the next hours at least. Resting your back against the wall, you watch Noah and Gaten play thumb war, as you wait for the director to call you into the scene again.

“How many did you had already?” Millie asks, gesturing at your can.

“Third.”

“Fifth.” Says Joe, raising his can from his place, seated on the floor some feet away. “But this thing isn't working. Still feel like I'll fall asleep any moment now.”

“If anyone falls asleep, I'll be following shortly after,” Natalia says and you giggle.

“He's changing the lightning. Again.” Dacre mutters as he stands beside you. The mall is colored in pinkish, purple, and some blue lights. It makes everything beautiful, and you took too many pictures already, alone, with Dacre, and with the rest of the crew. But the bad thing is that the low lights aren't helping with your sleep at all. “He's obsessed with the lightning.” Dacre's voice is heavy too, and you can tell he's as tired as you are.

“When we get back to the hotel I'll–”

“Alright, everyone. Let's go!” James calls and you set in motion, drinking what's left in your can before placing it down on a table and following the others.

You take your place among the kids, under a fake wall that fell, kneeled down, you wait for the sign for the scene to start. Dacre is across the area, waiting for his cue too.

“Let's try to get this done in this shot, guys!” As he speaks, the smoke starts building up, and a lot of lights go on as some others go off. “Alright. And action!”

Millie starts running, coming from one the halls, straight across the open area, jumping on the fountain, and then at the ground again. Behind her, some explosions happen, right on the marks where the Mind Flayer will step on. Millie basically throws herself on the floor, a few feet away from where you are with the kids, sliding until the half safety the fallen wall provides. You see as Finn holds her, making sure to keep the act, with a scared, anxious expression on your face.

“Steve! Now!” Gaten yells, and you watch as Joe comes into the scene, followed by a bigger explosion, so louder than expected that everyone, you included, is startled.

Something goes flying into the air, and you're fairly aware of something coming your way, but when you squint your eyes to try and see better, you notice it's too close now, and before you can raise your arms to protect yourself, you're hit by something in the face, a loud noise filling your ears as the pain spreads through your skull. You feel the metal thing flying past you, and some the guys yell too.

With a hand covering your right cheek, you hear as James ends the scene, but it's hard to bring sense to anybody's words right now, not when your hand is getting wet by what could only be blood. You try stumbling to your feet, ignoring the commotion around you, but when the whole place spins around, you fall back to the floor, closing your eyes shut.

@baker151910 @shinydixon @dreamin-of-dacre @hanoi15 @lickmymelaninn @foccus @multific @uncookspaget @kellysimagines @peakascum @thisbreakableheaven

#dacre montgomery x reader #dacre montgomery imagine #dacre montgomery fanfiction #imagine dacre montgomery #dacre montgomery #imagine billy hargrove #billy hargove x reader #stranger things imagine #imagine stranger things

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samanthalightning · 5 years ago

Text

She's Got A Date-EoWells X Allen!reader- Part V

*The GIF is not mine. All rights to the owner*

Part IV

Summary: While you face a relationship dilemma, you must help Barry stop The Mist from coming after your adoptive father. Based on 1x03

Warnings: None

***

You submerged your face in the water on your hands. The coolness temporarily eased the sting in your eyes. You turn off the faucets, you grab some tissues and dab them on your face to dry. You stared at yourself in the mirror; you were starting to look fine. The puffiness of your eyes ease, your eyes are still bloodshot red, but it was better.

It had been hours since that fight happened, and you have washed your face for the hundredth time today. Each time you think about it, you cry despite trying hard not to, and lucky you, it's all you can think about.

You reapplied your lipstick and mascara, and left the restroom. You walked down the hallway to come back to the cortex. You rounded a corner, but your feet quickly halted when a figure popped up to avoid collision.

It was him. You both froze, staring at each other. He could have swore, he saw a flicker of hurt and coldness in your eyes, before you lowered your head down when his stare became intense. This wasn't the first you crossed paths today. It's his building and you work here, though it didn't mean it got easier. It's always awkward and uneasy.

He didn't speak or move, so you figured you would be the one who needs to do it.

"Excuse me," you whispered, walking ahead passing by him.

"Y/N, wait." You stopped in your tracks and formed a fist. Although you didn't turn around. "We need to talk,"

"We already did. There's no need to further discuss it and make it worse." You didn't dare let him respond, and walked away rapidly away from him, not skipping a beat until you reached the cortex.

You quickly took a seat beside Cisco and buried your head on the computer, typing as you finished a report. Your thoughts ran, a sudden furious rage boiling in your veins. You couldn't believe how ironic it is that earlier he didn't want to talk about it, and now he does. It just infuriates you so hard, so hard and murder him with your bare hands.

"Woah, woah, you okay?" Cisco's voice pulled you out of your spiral.

You paused, fingertips ghosting the keyboard. You didn't even realize you were typing audibly, angrily. "Yeah. Just itching to get our meta," you said.

"Okay. Whatever you say," he replied, obviously suspicious and not an ounce convinced. None of them were if you're being honest. Especially Barry. He was very concerned, but it occurred to him that this might be regarding your mystery boyfriend, so he reluctantly kept his distance.

Wells came back. You can feel his eyes boring at you. You pretended to be oblivious, but it bothered you. Deeply.

Abruptly, a ping coming from the computer echoed in the room. It was the analysis on the toxin. Cisco was quick to call Barry and Caitlin, who God knows where to come to the cortex immediately.

They arrived moments later.

"Yo, check this out."

You all huddled up in front of the TV, waiting for someone to explain the result.

"We have identified the toxin," Wells said, clicking the screen of his tablet. The analysis results popped up on the screen.

"Hydrogen Cyanide?" Barry's brows furrowed.

"Well, what's interesting is what mixed in with the cyanide— a sedative," he added.

Your head cocked to the side, confused more than ever. You're no Caitlin, but that sounded odd. Never in your life have you heard those chemical compounds being mixed before— hell, even in being in the same sentence.

You turned to Barry to ask. His demeanor changed from being in serious thought to his eyes lighting up in recognition. A hand flew to his forehead, turning to Caitlin.

"The night of the explosion— find out if anyone was executed," he ordered.

Caitlin nodded and headed to the nearest computer.

"Why?" Wells asked, beating you to it.

"That sedative was given to criminals on death row before they go into the gas chamber, and breathe in cyanide," he explained.

That was one hell of a fact.

"There was someone executed— Kyle Nimbus," Caitlin informed.

A tab of his background and records popped up. And yup, he does look like someone crazy. Bald, pale skin, huge bags under his eyes. Just add a crooked smile and he could be the missing son of the Grinch and Penguin.

"That's him," Barry confirmed.

"He was a hit man for the Darbinyan crime family. They turned on him and testified. Judge Teresa Howard was the judge at his trial. She sentenced him to death."

It makes sense why he was hell bent on killing these people. The irony of his life though. Karma really is a bitch.

"He said there's one more on his list. Check the arrest records; who caught him, that could be his next attack," he walked towards her, and you trailed after him, dumbfounded.

There was too much information all at once, and Barry's the only one who's putting two and two together as fast as he runs.

You watched as Caitlin's eyes widened in horror. Her face blanched, glancing up at you and Barry, as if she had seen a ghost. It made you a little worried and anxious. The pit of your stomach knotting, as you swallowed thickly. Whatever information she got a hold of isn't good.

"Barry, the lead detective..."

Your heart dropped. Your mind quickly thinks of one person: Joe. Your thoughts ran wildly. You refused to believe it's him.

"Cait, who is it?" You asked, shakily.

"It's Joe."

You let out a gasp, panic surged through you. It felt like the world collapsed, your worry escalating into another level.

Next thing you knew, Barry was on his cell, both of you pacing back and forth, while he tried to reach Joe. Each time he took his phone off his ear, not able to reach him, he grew more frustrated. And so were you.

"He's not answering,"

"Call Eddie, maybe he knows," you suggested.

He took your advice and dialled him. You held your breath, anxiously waiting for the end of the ringing noise from Barry's phone.

"Eddie!" You immediately moved to Barry's side. "Hey, do you know where Joe went? He's not picking up his cell."

You placed your ears near and listened carefully. He paused, then said he didn't know.

"Eddie, it's really important I speak to him. I need to know where he went." Barry pleaded, evidently desperate.

Eddie must have picked it up. You heard an audible sigh from him through the phone. Eddie said he's in Iron Heights. That must have been why he's not picking up.

"Thanks, Eddie." Barry ended the call, and went to the team. "He's in Iron Heights, he's in Iron Heights because of me,"

Your brows drew together. If the toxins results didn't make sense, so is Barry right now. "What? Why?"

"I'll explain later," he said, running off to Caitlin.

She developed an antidote from the toxin, in case Barry didn't make it in time to stop Nimbus. Barry put on his suit, and faster than a blink of eye, he sped off, leaving a red streak of lights behind and a gust of strong wind blowing through your hair.

You took a seat and behind a computer to do your designated job. You pray to God Barry gets there before Nimbus does.

"Barry, I pulled up the specs on Iron Heights prison with maximum security, but I think I can talk you through breaking in there," he said, as he took a seat beside you.

You chortled, shaking your head. Your brother is probably doing the same thing right now. Cisco looked at you confused and a little offended.

"No bother. I've been figuring out how to break in that place since I was 11,"

Damn right he was. He used to get in trouble with Joe because of that, and you'll get a warning to think twice before pulling the same stunt. Barry still continuously, persistently did it. Eventually, he got older and no one has to call Joe about a minor trying to sneak in to see his Dad.

In a snap, it dawned on you. That's what Barry meant. Your Dad was the reason Joe was in Iron Heights. As to why, you wondered. Joe never once visited the man; he strongly believes that your Dad killed your Mom, it doesn't make sense why he would want to see him after all those years.

Your thoughts were pushed in the back of your mind, seeing Barry was inside the prison. You all cowered in silence, anxiety prickling your very existence. Your heart beating fast like you ran a hundred miles, you fingers were trembling. You took them off the keyboard, and hid them under the desk, clenching and unclenching it repeatedly.

You tried to keep it together, itching to hear Barry's voice, saying Joe's fine. You already lost your parents, you can't lose another one.

You felt a warm, large hand on your formed fist, fingers wrapping it securely with a squeeze. Your head shot up to the man in glasses beside you, stunned. Not that you just had the biggest fight ages ago, but your colleagues are literally sandwiching the two of you.

He gave a soft, assuring smile. And you appreciated it deeply. You opened your palm, intertwining your fingers with his. The differences were set aside for a moment, as you hold on to him for dear life.

"Joe's stable," Barry spoke.

The weight on your chest was lifted off. You relaxed for a second only to be reminded that there's still a meta-human on the loose that desperately needs some ass-kicking.

According to Barry, Nimbus transformed into a mist again, and Caitlin advised him to stay away, do not breathe him I'm. As weird as that sounds, it was the only way to avoid inhaling cyanide, and he might not be so lucky again.

But it was very obvious that it wasn't easy; the man is literally air.

"Guys, I don't think this is helping me,"

"You can't fight him, Barry. Just..." Caitlin paused to think. "...keep him coming at you, that should sap his strength."

Wells nodded in agreement. "Yes. Gas is the least stable form of matter— this meta-human will not be able to stay in this mist form, his particles will need to reform."

Barry ran. He ran farther and farther away from the prison. He takes quick stops, before running again.

Your eyes peered over to Caitlin's computer to check on his vitals. His heart rate elevated a bit, but everything was fine. Although he wasn't updating or saying anything it's starting to worry you.

Wells, clearly worried, leaned over and grabbed the mic. "Barry?" He called him. There was only silence on the other end. "Barry?" He called again, louder and firmer.

"We win,"

You all sighed with relief. Your eyes fluttered close, as you lean back into your seat and roll your head back. You squeezed him, you looked at him as a grateful smile spread across your face.

Barry brought Nimbus to S.T.A.R Labs, and left to go to the hospital. You stayed behind to see how well you did with makeshift prison, and get some satisfaction by watching him go crazy to find a way out.

You stood by the entrance of the pipeline with the team, watching the door slide down in front of a very angry Kyle Nimbus, pounding on the glass, constantly morphing into gas to escape his cell. The dummy didn't actually think you'd seal it.

"So, we just have to get used to working above a makeshift prison," Caitlin commented.

"Yup," you replied.

It's surreal. You can't still quite grasp the fact that you built a prison, and it's weird to see someone actually imprisoned inside. He deserved it, yes, but it's still weird.

Everyone turned to shuffle back to the cortex. Cisco pulled Caitlin aside. It looks like they have something to talk about, and by the look on Cisco's face, it's probably serious.

Your eyes flickered to Wells, who was surprisingly staring at you too. You locked eyes, realizing things had wind down— Nimbus is apprehended, and no meta-human to worry about for the time being. You don't know what's going to happen, where you both stand; if the relationship still exists, but one thing is for certain: it was time to address it and deal with it.

He tilted his head to the side, gesturing to go outside, before leaving the room.

You followed him, trailing behind him in the hallway. You dreaded every step you took, you heart racing fast under your ribs, and for many times today, your stomach churned, nervous.

You didn't know where he was leading you. You never really wandered around this area. The hallway is like a never ending maze; just no twist and turns. It was long and quiet and dark. If he was some dude, you would think that he's luring you to kill you.

You were about to ask him where you both were going, but he stopped. You both stood in front of a door. Nothing special about it, just a door. He twisted the knob and opened it. He took a step aside to let you in first and you obliged.

The lights automatically turned on, shedding lights on the room contents. Shelves containing boxes and some other covered things lined up across the room. It's another storage room. The dust isn't disgustingly obvious yet, but it hasn't been touched in a while. Probably since last year.

"We have another storage room?" You raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. This was used when we were building the accelerator," he explained, closing the door behind him.

This is not the most ideal place to talk, but it's secluded and quiet and hidden. Given the fight earlier, all those three are a must.

You spun around to him, folding your arms, awkwardly waiting for him to speak first.

"So?" He started.

"So?"

He exhaled sharply, pursing his lips. "I thought about what you said, and..." He trailed off. A lump forming in your and you gulped in anticipation, watching him be lost for words. It was like those heart stopping moments in class just before your teacher passed your papers, scared of what your mark would be, except on this one, there's only two of you. This would not just affect the future, but potentially break your heart.

He stammered. " I don't— I don't want to lose you. I love you and you were right." Your mouth went dry. You were rendered speechless. Not a single word you could utter, staring at him in shock. You didn't expect that one. Scared that might not convince you, he added, "I mean it. I couldn't risk losing you."

Emotions barrelling through you. You kept it together, not wanting to broke down immediately.

"What about the press?"

"They'll leave us alone eventually," he answered.

"Your haters?"

He chuckled lightly. "They'll forget about it."

"And Joe?" The smile on his face faded, aware of the seriousness of that name.

"We'll deal with it. But I'm pretty sure he'll be happy for you,"

You lowered your head, looking down at your feet.

"Y/N?"

You glanced up, your demeanor stern as you looked into his eyes. "Are you sure? You might be just saying this right now, but you might regret—"

"The only thing I will regret is letting you walk away. I lost a lot of things last year, and I don't want you to be part of it. You mean so much to me,"

Your heart was cracked open. You were in awe of his declaration. Today was a tough one, and it will be on some days, but you certainly knew you would be a damn fool to let him go.

Although, it doesn't hurt to rile him up a bit. You maintain a stoic expression for a period of time, which ended very soon because you couldn't help it anymore.

"Damn it," you hissed.

You went to him, cupped his cheek and pulled his lips to yours. He responded quickly. His lips move passionately against yours, pouring all emotions into the kiss. Your stomach flutters in realization how vulnerable and raw this moment is. It was like he's opening up and he didn't have to say anything. Everything disappeared for a while. He clutched your arm, pressing you closer to this warmth.

You pulled away reluctantly, panting. You leaned your forehead against his.

"I love you," you whispered to him.

"I love you too,"

He drew closer to kiss you again, but you withdrew. You gritted your teeth, looking at him nervously.

"I think we should tell them tonight,"

***

Uh Oh. How do you think they'll react?

Anyway, I'd appreciate if you share this and give it love. Thanks!

Part VI

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hrh-selene-r · 5 years ago

Text

Luck be a Lady (1/4)

Devil in a White Dress

The Logan boys have it in their heads a plan to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway, but in order to do that they need someone with experience in breaking into a high tech vault. In their need, the Logan brothers visit non other than Joe Bang to recruit him into their heist. Problem is, they have to convince him; and knowin’ them Logan boys’ family curse, he ain’t gonna take no chances doing’ this without another professional. They need someone who can get into places and blend in, someone with experience who knows how to improvise and to tie up lose ends....Someone like you.

A short fic that started as a one shot and ended up being a short multi chapter fic, where our sweet boi Clyde, falls for a woman that’s more that what she seems. The question is, can he handle it?

Clyde x Reader

6.8k Words

Warnings: mentions of theft | Reader uses an alias

White

The room is an off-color white, not quite bright, as to somehow make it sterile, and cold. It’s the color of day-old snow on the pavement. Hell, even the chairs are a weird gray color, makin’ the room seem monochromatic. It’s all white, unsettling and uncomfortable.

He’s all too familiar with these walls and how isolating being here feels. Say what ya want, but six months under was enough to scare Clyde straight, and there ain’t no way he wants to come back here. But if he’s gonna do this, he’s gonna do it right. And doin’ it right meant getting someone who knows how to blow up a Bank Vault. Which, ironically, brings him here. The one place he doesn’t want to be in; with his brother, visiting none other than the famous Joe Bang.

Watching him eat a couple of hard-boiled eggs, and listenin’ to him talk about special salt for his blood pressure before finally getting to the part where his big brother Jimmy explains the plan to bust him outta jail in broad daylight, to blow up a bank vault, and get him back in jail before anyone notices.

At first, Joe can’t believe these two. How exactly are they gonna pull this off anyway? He chuckles at Jimmy Logan’s proposition, thinkin’ the idiots must have a screw loose.

“You Logans, must be as simpleminded as people say.” Joe said all condescendent like.

“They say that?!” the brothers ask in unison; surprised and offended as they quickly look at one another before turning back to a sniggering Joe Bang.

“Who?” Jimmy asks, not being able to let go of the slight tease.

In Joe’s mind, them Logan's plan was crazy, but it could work out. If the take’s good and the job seems doable, he might just be able to replace his stolen little nest egg, and then some. Amused, he decided it’s time to talk shop. “So what’s the take?”

“It’s bigger’n you can bury under an oak tree.” Jimmy assures him.

“And the split?” Joe asks back.

“Even Split.” Jimmy answers only to be rebutted immediately by Joe “No. No way.”

Why? Now Clyde’s Curious, he’s been lettin’ his brother do most o’ the talkin’, on account of it bein’ his crazy cauliflower plan, and all. “ Why not?” Clyde asks, confused; wantin’ to know why Joe didn’t think it was a fair deal.

Joe looks at him for a moment. “ I got a brother. I got two. I’d need ‘em involved to protect my interest.

“Fine.” Jimmy sighs, conceding to his demands, figurin’ that a smaller slice is better than no pie at all.

“Alright, What’s the location?” Joe asked them. Now he’s willing to play ball. They just gotta iron out how to actually make the plan work.

“Charlotte Motor Speedway.” Jimmy answered. Three words, no further explanation needed.

A pregnant pause fell on the conspiring men as Joe pursed his lips, giving out a deep sigh through his nose, and leaning back in his seat.

Thinking his pause meant hesitation, Clyde started to get anxious. They needed Joe Bang, if they’d have any shred of a chance at pullin’ this dang thing off. He leaned forward in his chair and asked Joe “ Don’t think you can do it?” Challenging him and hopin’ he just might take his bait.

“Now I didn’t say that, did I?” Joe answered him defensively, his tone a warning to Clyde not to underestimate him but also treating him with respect; despite just practically offending him by doubting his skills. He has a reputation to maintain, after all.

“Then what’s the problem, Joe Bang?” Jimmy asks, growing impatient, not getting what Joe’s huffing about now.

Joe breathes out a huff, not believing these two idiots and the fact that he has to explain everything.

“Before I take any job, I look at it the same way as it takes to make a bang: positive versus negative. Now you mix a little bit o’ this with a little bit a’ that and you get a reaction. A reaction is Power, but it’s moving fast and it’s moving away from ya and it keeps moving until it hits somethin’.”

“Like a vault wall.” Clyde interrupts.

“Sure, like a vault wall. So, you wanna make sure you always get more positive than negative, or else ya gotta get outta the way fast….Pullin’ off a job like this; I gotta weigh in the positive versus the negative….You Logans can just think of it as a plus or minus..” Joe explains to the brothers, leaning back into his chair.

“We get positive and negative.” Jimmy answers him, irritated with joe; feelin’ like he runnin’ them around in circles with the whole dang explanation.

“Okay, so it’s all cash, that’s a positive. But a place like the track?....It’s gonna have twenty times the amount o’ security of a regular bank, so that’s a negative, but there’ll be a whole mess o’ people walkin’ around there, and that’s a positive; it helps us blend in. There’ll be metal detectors and cameras, you know, recording every dang inch of the place. That’s a negative; we can’t bring anything through them gates. No explosives, no guns.” Joe thinks out loud listing off the various pros and cons of the job, mentally making a list to see what are the chances of them being able to pull off this job.

“No, we don’t. We don’t want usin’ any guns.” Jimmy tells Joe, a bit flabbergasted, that he’s even considering such a thing. Never in his life has he held a gun to threaten anybody. Hell, he don’t even know if he’s capable of shootin’ at somebody. No, no guns. They just complicate everything.

“Absolutely no guns.” Clyde agrees resolutely, shaking his head while looking at Joe seriously in the eyes. It’s not that he’s not familiar or inexperienced. The mas is an iraqui war vet, for cryin’ out loud. He did two goddamn tours over there; of course he knows how to use a gun and how to kill someone. But there’s a time and place for everything, and he won’t kill someone unnecessarily if he can avoid it. He’s a vet now, and that time in his life is over, he’s a bartender, and a small business owner now. He knows what it’s like to kill and he ain’t gonna put that burden on Jimmy. No way, no how. So absolutely no guns.

At the brothers’ refusal Joe leans back in his chair and huffs a sigh from his nostrils. They just don’t make it easy, do they? “Well, I guess for you Logans that’s a positive.”

“So you’ll do it?” Jimmy asks him hopefully; getting to the point of the conversation and the reason for their visit, wanting to get this over with; the more time spent here the more suspicious they look.

Joe on the other hand doesn’t hear him, he’s too busy still thinking about the job in his head. He has to make sure this’ll work out well, ‘cuz he ain’t doin’ nuthin’ to risk increasin’ his sentence, not when he is so close to freedom. So...he may have to outsource, bring out the big guns, so to speak. “The problem, gentlemen, is security. We’d need to find a way to get in.” He explained slowly, his voice deep in his chest and rumbly as he concentrated in thought.

“Access.” Clyde elaborates, glancin’ at Jimmy for a quick bit.

“Exactly!” Joe points his finger at Clyde, eyes wide as someone finally gets it.

Jimmy stares back and forth at both men. What was he painted onto the walls? “ I can get access, I HAVE access.” Jimmy argues, not to be considered useless.

“You were just fired.” Clyde reminds him, turning to look at him. “ ‘sides don’t ya’ think it’d look suspicious if ya’ll went around snoopin’ for ways to access the tunnels or if you’re caught by the cameras creepin’ around?” Clyde asked Jimmy as if it was the most obvious thing, further proving Joe’s point.

Joe leans back in his chair and raises his arms, palms up. “He’s right. You’re too close to it, someone in security or a worker might recognize ya. We need to avoid exposing you to the staff as much as possible, particularly the staff that works in the tunnels that can recognize your face.” Joe scratches his growing stubble and begins to mumble as he thought of a solution. Well, we got no choice. We’ll probably have a better off chance of pullin’ this off with ‘er anyway. “ So…...We’re gonna need someone for the job…..”

“Who do you reckon?” Jimmy asks him.

-------------------------------------

Mercer County Airport wasn’t crowded, it was just not that modern, you guess, at least not compared to other places you’ve been. But what else could you say about the small County airport? Hell, if it weren’t because you owed Joseph Bang a favor, you wouldn’t have been anywhere relatively near West Virginia, let alone walking into a parking lot of an airpot there.

But, Life is a funny thing, it can take you to a lot of places you’ve never expected to be. And right now, life took you through an airport parking lot and to an old 1969 red Dodge Charger that was calling your name; conveniently parked in the lot, along with other vintage vehicles in good condition.

It’s true that it’s extremely out of the ordinary to see these types of cars together, let alone in the same lot, but you supposed that they’re probably cars on route to go to the auto show that was advertised in one of the touristy pamphlets you saw while walking out of the airport. Something about NASCAR.

Must be your lucky day, because you can’t see a guard anywhere near here; in fact the whole lot seems to be devoid of people, and you’re not gonna look at gifted horsepower in the mouth.

You supposed with a smirk, that if you’re here for a job, might as well enjoy your time here. A bit of business with pleasure can’t go wrong. Still, Joe better thank you for the trouble that you’re going through, helping him out. The wind blew your hair over your dark cat-eye sunglasses while you try to subtly open the car door, being careful not to attract any unwanted attention. This job better be good, you inwardly complain as you open the bottom part of the dash, below the steering wheel, and start to hot wire the collectible car. You try to do it as quickly as you can, before the security guards can catch a whiff of you and send your cute little ass to jail before you can even hear Joe out.

That won’t do us any good. You wouldn’t be able to show off the cute little white dress you’re wearing, if you’re in a cell, after all.

Your giggles are drowned by the roar of the car’s ignition, as you start getting in, putting your travel bags in the passenger seat and adjusting your mirrors. Adios Mercer Airport is the last thing you think about before putting the car into gear and getting out of there.

Getting the window down, you can’t help the feeling crawling through your back and up your shoulders. It’s that feeling of freedom, of anything being possible as the wind blew threw you (H/C) hair, and the open road stretched before you as the car starts speeding.

Now, Joe wasn’t specific or detailed in his call. Actually, he was very vague. All he said was that he was calling up his favor and that he wanted me to be his brother Fish’s date for a fair that’s happening in town. Now, he wasn’t going out with Fish, that much she knew; if anything he was talking in code. The message was simple: “You owe me a favor and now I’m calling it. Come home, and look up my brothers, they’re the point of contact.” So she gave Fishy a call and set up a meeting at a bar called ‘Duct Tape’. So here she was, in West Virginia, going at 75 mph in a modified and revamped stolen Charger, with nothing but a gps set to take you to this so-called bar, and the open road.

You’ll have to be careful not to attract any unwanted attention, it can be a rural small town, but a cop, is a cop, is a cop. So you’ll have to stop by somewhere nearby to change the plates; exchange them with another car’s, and you better do it soon, you have an appointment to keep and an old friend to meet.

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The air outside was a bit humid and calm tonight as John Denver played from the jukebox, Earl was outside havin’ his usual smoke, the ceilin’ fans are blowin’ air down from above to the drinking patrons, the clinks of glasses and crashes of the billiards table mixed in with the music.

Clyde supposed he couldn’t complain, at least not for now, all he had to make sure was to get this heist over and done with, he thought as he cleaned up and rearranged some glasses in the bar. He was really just tryin’ to look busy, to not give away the fact that he was actually keepin’ an eye on Sam and Fish Bang while they played pool a few feet away. Now, he and his brother already talked to ‘em durin’ the county fair and got ‘em to agree to help ‘em out with the whole heist and all, so what were they doin’ here? ‘Cuz they weren’t exactly regular customers in his bar.

It wasn’t until Jimmy walked in that Clyde finally got his answer. The brothers were waitin’ on someone. A colleague of Joe’s, he said; they’re supposed to meet up in this here bar to negotiate with Jimmy, talk shop as it were. Now, Joe was very clear that he wasn’t gonna do any plan or heist without another professional, to help out. So it’s not like they have a choice in the matter. They needed this guy on their side.

This, of course, left him a bit apprehensive. After all, he’s seen what Joe’s brothers are like. What would a friend of Joe Bang’s even be like? This famous so-called swiss army man. He was probably another convict or a thief. Clyde could picture it now; he’d most likely be a thought biker type of some sort, or a bearded tattooed man with a tear tattooed on his face, maybe someone with a penchant for violence….And they were plannin’ to meet in his bar, during his shift.

Great.

That is the last thing that Clyde needs in his bar. Plus, won’t it look suspicious if they’re seen associatin’ in an almost conspiratorial manner? The cops would find out. I’d be just his luck too if trouble comes his way because of this. He’s waitin’, afraid it’ll happen too.

The Logan Family Curse

He’s been hollerin’ in both Jimmy’s and Mellie’s ears about this, comin’ up on years now, but it’s just not goddang normal. Hell, he never takes his damn horseshoe ring off, just in case. Now, Clyde hasn’t always believed in the so-called family curse; he didn’t believe it in high school and he didn’t believe it when he did two tours in Iraq (otherwise he probably wouldn't ‘ve done them in the first place).

But ever since the freak landmine accident that cost him his hand an’ part of his forearm, he couldn’t stop thinking that this kind of stuff just don’t happen to normal folk. So he started digging up info about his other family members, and bit by bit he started to put the pieces of this whole thing together. The proof that not only does he have the Logan curse on his head, but that it exists. Ever since then, he’s been wearin’ the same lucky horseshoe ring, thinking it’d be best to ward off any type of bad luck an’ evil out there as much as he can.

It’s just not smart to tempt the devil, and he’ll avoid it where he can.

Clyde is taken off his internal reverie as Sam approaches him at the bar. “Another round, my good man.” He tells Clyde. He, of course, obliges and hands Sam two bottles of Coors, uncapped.

Meanwhile, Jimmy sat in his usual bar stool, drinking his beer, talkin’ to Clyde while he worked the bar; re-filling drinks and cleanin’.

“You got everythin’ planned?” Clyde asks Jimmy

“Just about. Just ironin’ out some things.” He answered confidently even though Jimmy still hasn’t finished planning squat. But he can’t let Clyde know, he’d panic, quietly, but he would still panic.

“Welp, you better do it fast, got the auto show comin’?” Clyde reminds him earnestly.

As Clyde starts to put some glasses away on the high shelf, busying himself with never-ending work, so much so that he doesn't notice that the front door opens and in walks a woman.

“Be right with ya.” He said after he heard one of the bar stools near Jimmy scrape on the wooden floors.

Now, you found it hilarious that the bar was called the Duck Tape...you spent all this time thinking it was weird to name a bar “Duct Tape” but here you stand at the front door; corrected, ‘cause it could, in fact get weirder. You, of course, pay no mind to the ambience or the music hanging in the air once you enter the bar. You were here to meet with Fish and Sam; strictly business, or at least that’s what you thought while looking around the bar.

There were a few patrons, a few people sat in the u-shaped bar, while the bartender looked like he’s doing something on the shelves above it. You decide to not be a bother while he’s up on his step ladder and you just quietly walk over to the bar, sitting two seats away from another patron. He’s young looking, around his mid-thirties with short brown hair, and a goatee and the beginnings of a beard. He’s wearing a white t-shirt, but under it you can see that he was about fit, or fit enough. Or at least, that’s what you could gather since he was actually getting up, probably to go to the bathroom or something. He was good looking though, even if he had a bit of a limp, you noticed as you gave him a passing smile, doing your best to be friendly to the locals.

It’s seemed to be a quiet night all around. To the right there were some men drinking together, probably buddies; you saw Fish and Sam were already here, playing pool on a table nearby, probably waiting for you to get here. All in all, you really didn’t seem to miss anything going on.

That is until you turned your focus to the bar, and said bartender working in front of you. How oblivious did you have to be to not notice this man? You asked yourself as you saw that the bartender there wasn’t using a step ladder at all.

Well, Hello.

He was just this tall mountain of a man, with black shoulder length hair. His back was towards you, so you couldn’t see much, but what you could see, you enjoyed. His body was wrapped up in a cotton button-down short sleeved shirt, and those dark wash jeans that gave you a nice view of a tight ass that you can stare at all day if he lets you (you wouldn’t mind grabbing it either).

Through his shirt you could see his shoulder blades through his back; flexing and moving as he finished placing the glasses high up, giving the rippling view and showing that he may be wide, but his waist was defined. So he was likely well built. A gym freak, health nut maybe? No, his waist would be more defined if he was, so would his muscles. His form suggests that his muscles are built to be strong, not for show.

Maybe this mountain man chops wood. All in all you liked the view, and you always did have a thing for tall men (Everything just tended to be more proportional). So really, you wouldn’t mind spending some time in the bar, looking at him as he worked, getting a drink to relax, and enjoy the local sights before having to deal with Fish.

Uuuugh!

Why does this have to happen when you're here because of a Job? You’d rather just not deal with them at all if you could. Don’t take it the wrong way, the Bang Brothers aren’t bad people, per se. In fact you don’t mind Fish at all, and they’re good hearted boys; they mean well, but it’s obvious to any adult equipped with a brain that the smarts in the family went to Joe. The man’s a chemist after all, and Fish and Sam...well, they mean well, and Fish is okay. With a makeover he could be cute. But it’s not a mystery why he’s not a hit with the ladies. Or why Misty had an affair behind his back.

You rearrange your posture in your seat, twisting around over to the billiard’s table, just to make sure that both Sam and Fishy were still there.

“What do you like?” Clyde asks in a friendly way before finally turning around, and just like that…...It’s as if life punched him stupid in the face and left his vision all blurry like. It was as if for an instant time stopped and he was left still, dumb and frozen, just staring at you. It’s a good thing you were looking over at the billiards table because otherwise, he’d looked like a creep.

Now, to be fair, Clyde’s seen all types of folks come ‘n go around these parts, especially when you work at a bar. But Clyde could swear that he’s never seen someone quite like you. In your short white cotton dress, cinched at the wait with a thin brown belt with cute little brown cowboy boots; and your hair, loose in the most beautiful shade of (H/C) he’d ever seen. Now this isn’t enough to go by, and it’s true. It wasn’t until you turned your face to answer him that he finally managed to see you, that left Clyde truly entranced. Your beautiful (E/C) eyes, your hair framing your face beautifully had him enchanted; but the most beautiful part, in his opinion, was that bright smile that you gave him. It was one of those smiles that pulled up at your cheeks and made your nose scrunch a bit and maybe he was crazy but it lit up the whole goddamn bar.

Clyde doesn’t know if it’s because it’s been a while since he was with a woman, but goddamn, it was like you came right out of a dream; an angel with a white dress and everythin’.

All in all, he was so dumbstruck in awe, that he didn’t notice that you sweetly gave him your order. It was as if for the briefest of seconds he felt like he was underwater.

Snap out of IT!!!

Clyde clears his throat blinking quickly to get him out of his stupor. “I’m sorry?” he asked you as if he’s trying to make sure he got your order right.

“Can I have a vodka with Orange Juice, please?” you ask him again sweetly, not minding at all that you had to repeat your order.

“Uh, yeah. Comin’ right up.” He said politely, trying to give you a good impression, but also being professional. The last thing a lady like you needed was a guy harassin’ her and bein’ inappropriate with her. It didn’t help the wait that you were looking at him, all sweet-like, like ya had a secret that he didn’t know.

And maybe you did; or maybe you were just checking him out as he showed off, making your drink, with added flair that belonged in a more modern bar, not the duck tape. Still, you were grateful for the opportunity to watch him work.

Of course, the pleasure was all yours. Watching him closely, enjoying the show he put on for you.

The man himself was six feet tall, maybe six foot two, but his body was well built all around from what you could see. His hair was dark, wavy and gorgeous....how is that even fair? You don’t know, but it does complement his goatee and frame his face, accenting his big nose and his full, pouty lips. It gives him this rugged, country boy look. His eyes are brown and look soulful; gentle, offsetting his almost intimidating physique.

You notice that he’s wearing a black t-shirt under his navy-blue button down as he moves through the bar and even flips the shaker to efficiently mix the drink over ice, even though it’s not typically mixed, not knowing that he did it was to cool your drink as a special treat for the lady in white.

He tapped the glass connected to the shaker and poured the mixture in a clean high-ball glass sitting on a napkin, and delicately handed it over to you. You took the opportunity and deliberately brushed your fingers against his as you smiled at him, noting his lucky horse shoe ring sitting in his fourth finger. What a peculiar thing to wear you mused as you do a quick study in your head; nearly hitting yourself for not noticing earlier the most obvious thing about him until he was right in front of you, fixing your drink. An amputee bartender...that’s a first. You start to wonder how was it that he lost it. maybe a car crash? Some type of accident most definitely. Either way, this wasn't something that you saw everyday.

“Thank you.” You tell him kindly, just being polite.

“Ya welcome, miss.” He replies leaving the statement in the air. You look around a bit dramatically and look back at the bartender.

He’s polite and his voice. Hmm!

Maybe it was his tone, or maybe it was the fact that he looked like rural sex on a stick, but you’re starting to want t o know more about him. And being the weirdo that you are, you start analyzing him from top to bottom; you can’t help it, you were just too curious about this sexy mystery man. Too bad I can’t tell if he’s married you think as you start to really look at him, seeing what you could find out.

Male, late twenties to early thirties, over six feet, caucasian, dark hair, well built and athletic, soft spoken, polite, but articulated. A bit shy, definitely not a social butterfly, from what I can see. Body language and tone suggests a bit of an inferiority complex and lack of confidence despite his height, meaning that he’s self conscious. Maybe he was picked on for it. His build suggests he was maybe an athlete in high school or college, perhaps military training. That could explain the lost arm, but I shouldn’t get ahead of myself.

Your thought process makes you look at him sideways, supporting your head’s weight in your left hand as he cleans in front of you while you contemplate his life story. You wanted him to talk to you, you wanted him to make the first move; for him to give you a way to talk to him. But from the looks of it, you're gonna have to make the first move. Luck favors the bold, you remind yourself before taking a deep breath and look at his face.

“Is the bar always this busy?” You teased at him, a smirk on your lips as you're trying to make conversation. The brothers are still playing pool, so you have time. Why bother them and interrupt their game when you can play one of your own right here? And with far better company at that.

Clyde doesn’t miss a beat, hearing the small tease in your tone, still not really believing that you’re talkin’ to him. “Well, you’re very lucky. Bar’s not usually full until the weekend, so you can get my attention easily.” He replies teasing you right back with a small innuendo as he met your smirk with one of his own.

“Really? Lucky me then. And what’s your name?….You know, in case I need to catch your attention. Or are you just ‘bartender’?” You fire right back. Okay, so the boy knows how to flirt a bit, this is promising, you thought as you played innocent with him, leaning back a bit and puffing out your chest and smiling, which if the lighting isn’t tricking you, causes him to blush a bit, on his cheeks, right below those cute little eyes.

“Name’s Clyde. At your service, Miss....” His answer held the promise of servicing more than a cocktail, or at least you hoped it did.

“Vivienne. The name is Vivienne.” You introduce yourself, moving your head slightly, flipping a bit of our hair as you do so, showing more of your angelic face to Clyde, and he can’t help but give a small smile and the sound of your name. Vivienne, Vivienne Clyde repeats your name, trying it out in his head, almost as if to see if it fit with what he saw in front of him. “Or ya’ll can call me Vivi for short, everybody does.” She smiled at him, a southern twang in your voice and the way you speak. It’s not from around these parts that’s for sure. Maybe it’s a different part or state. Heaven knows Clyde isn’t the most traveled fella, and even the parts where he’s travelled too ain’t that exotic.

Vivi takes a swig at her drink, gesturing to the ring on his right hand. “Are you superstitious? Or are you just always lucky?”

Clyde takes a look at his ring before smiling, slightly amused at the thought of Clyde Logan, of all people, being lucky at all. “A bit superstitious. Rather not tempt the devil y’know.” He answers lightheartedly, not wanting to elaborate on how was it that the Logan Curse made him believe in it. At least for right now, he just counts himself lucky to get you interested in him at all, don’t get him wrong, but Clyde isn’t an optimistic man; he can’t afford to be, not with this curse over his head. Knowing his luck, you’ll get bored of him quickly and move on to another fella. But he might as well enjoy this while it lasts. “You?”

“A bit, but who isn’t really? I mean, it never hurts to throw a bit of salt over your shoulder, right?” You answer with a smile, your right eyebrow raising as you did so with a little playful shrug, causing his smirk to develop into a full smile, making his cheeks pull up a bit and his eyes shine at your lighthearted demeanor. You’re guessing that it’s not easy or common to break him and get a smile out of his somber, pouty expression, given how he seems to hold himself so seriously; so you considered this a little victory. Clyde just thought of it as part of your charm.

And just like that he was hooked.

When you were done with your first drink, you decided to take it up a notch. Maybe it was the liquid courage, or maybe it was your own bravery, either way you end up inviting him to drink with you, appealing to his good nature.

“It’s my first time in West Virginia, and it’s bad luck to drink alone.” you say, pouting your lips at him.

“Well what about that first one?” he counters.

“That one doesn’t count. And if it does, then I need to do something about it. C’mon, have a drink with me. That way you can help me negate the bad luck.” You told him. At first he didn’t think it right, him bein’ working an’ all, but how could he say no to you? How could he say no to those captivating eyes and those tempting lips?

So Clyde agreed, saying that he can’t leave a lady like you with bad luck in all good conscience, and deftly took two shot glasses down from the shelf and filled each of them with Bourbon Whiskey.

Taking the shot, you smelled it and looked at him funny. “Bourbon?” You asked him, to which he nodded in response. “It’s the good kind, top shelf, to commemorate your first time drinkin’ in West Virginia, on the House.”

“Well then, cheers. To good luck and good health.” you say raising your glass to meet his with a small clink before downing the contents in two quick swigs; the liquid burning your throat and the back of your mouth as you shook your head blinking as you did so.

“You good?” He asked smiling, this time his smile showed you a glimpse of his teeth. You nodded vigorously as you got ready for another round.

Just two seats away, Jimmy saw the exchange and he couldn’t believe his eyes. This lady was downright flirtin’ with his little brother, not in an overtly sexual way, but in a sweet teasing way. And what’s even more shocking; Clyde is flirtin’ right back. Well, his version of flirtin’, which isn’t to say much, cause his brother tended to be of a more serious type.

Now, he didn’t recognize you, or at least he can’t remember you from anywhere, and be that as it may, Boone County ain’t that big. People tended to know everybody in town. So, you’re either a relative of someone or you’re from out of town, maybe even a city girl by the looks o’ your hair. He ain’t ever seen someone have hair that pretty; like them models you see in magazines or movies. But still, this is a big thing, so he decides to not interrupt, and let his brother enjoy her company while he enjoys his beer.

---------------------------------------------------

You spent the better part of the next two hours with him, talking, drinking and joking around. Honestly, you had even forgotten about Sam and Fish, and the whole reason why you were in the bar in the first place, preferring to spend your time like this than to deal with them.

Unfortunately your good time’s cut short as Sam Bang approaches the bar to order another beer and ends up looking in your direction when he heard you talking to Clyde. “Vivi?” He asked, turning away from the bar in your direction. Effectively ending your moment with the handsome man.

Both you and Clyde turn in Sam’s direction, you sigh loudly from your nostrils as you regard his appearance. “Hi Sam, how’s it going?” you ask him, causing Clyde’s once sunny mood to darken in shock as he looks back and forth between you and Sam; asking himself just how did you know him.

Sam turns around towards the billiards table and shouts. “Hey yo Fish! Vivi’s here!” getting his brother’s attention.

Upon hearing his brother Fish walks over to see what the commotion is about. “What?...Hey Vivi? When did you get here?” he asked and then gave you a small kiss in the cheek showing how familiar you were. You reciprocate the kiss with a polite smile before answering. “Oh just a while ago. I decided to get a drink while you boys finished your game.”

Okay, what the hell is goin’ on? Clyde thought jealously, watching with suspicious eyes as Fish’s arm wrapped around your waist as he gave you a kiss on yer cheek. He needed someone to explain this ‘cuz he couldn’t understand what was happenin’. One minute, yer talkin’ to him, flirtin’ all nice like, and now your talkin’ to Sam and Fish Bang like ya’ll good friends or somethin’. Was he in like a Twilight Zone? All he could do is pray that you weren’t related to them or that you were Fish’s girlfriend. Anything but that.

Likewise, Jimmy was also taken aback by the apparent run-in between you and the brothers, but he figures that maybe ya’ll are relatives, ‘cause there is no way in hell that one of them is in a relationship with someone like you.

Not able to take it anymore, Clyde addresses the group. “You know each other?!” he asks cautiously, his tone sounding a little louder than necessary, his eyes darting between Sam, Fish and you.

“Well, yeah.” Sam is the first to answer, lookin’ confused to ‘ve been asked that in the first place. “We’ve been waitin’ o her, on account of her bein’ our swiss army lady and all.”

“Wait, what?” Jimmy chimes in two seats away, giving away the fact that he was actually eavesdropping on their conversation.

“What?” Clyde equally in shock makes the same question, not processing what Sam said just now.

“Yea.” Sam answered simply.

Fish hits Sam’s arm, catching his brother’s attention. “Sam c’mon, man. It’s 2017. Weeee’re what?” he said slowly, hoping that Sam will get the point that he’s trying to get across to him. Sam, being Sam, just shrugs; not getting the point that Fish is getting at, causin’ Fish to let out an exasperated breath. “We’re woke, man. It’s Swiss Army MAN.” Fish said as if it was the most obvious thing, clearly embarrassed at his brother’s faux pas.

Understanding the situation as an embarrassment, Sam’s lips formed a small o as he offered an apology towards you. “Oh. I aporogize Vivi, on account of my political correctness.” which you just shrug off, not caring about the insignificant point enough to bother to correct him.

What you did care about was the fact that they were plain out in the open talking about the job in front of Clyde and the bar patrons, as if it was the most casual thing. Besides, What did they mean by Swiss army man? She was definitely out of this internal joke by the looks of it.

“Swiss army man?” You asked, trying to get it but failing miserably.

Sam just nodded and answered your question with a simple “Yeah.” as if that cleared things up for you.

Meanwhile the Logan brother’s can’t believe what’s happenin’ in front of their very eyes.

You didn’t seem like the type that can help ‘em out. Hell, you seemed like one o’ them instagram girl with how pretty you look, not a thief or professional criminal! Jimmy just couldn’t wrap around in his mind just how you, pretty, innocent and girly-lookin’ You could help ‘em; just what did you know?

Clyde, like his brother, was equally taken aback by this whole thing. Just a short while ago, he’d been talkin’ to her for two hours; drinkin’ and flirtin’ somethin’ nice. It seemed like she liked him, and Clyde most definitely liked her. Everything about her was beautiful and sweet. AND it turns out that she’s a criminal. Was she a thief? Was she a killer? He just can’t believe it, and just his luck too. Did she already know who he was? She was just jerkin’ his chain, flirtin’ with him to pass the time? From the looks of it, you were this sweet southern girl, without a bad thought in your mind; not a professional criminal. (Not that he had any ground on to judge you) He just couldn’t wrap his head around it.

And apparently, neither could Jimmy. Getting up from his chair, he approached the three o’ them pointing a finger directly at you.

“You’re Joe Bang’s so-called ‘colleague’? The one he called?” Jimmy asked incredulously .

“Hi. I’m Vivienne, but everybody calls me Vivi.” you introduce yourself to Jimmy with a friendly smile pullin’ at your cheeks. “ And you are? How do you know Joe Bang called me?”

��This here’s Jimmy. This thing is his whole Idea.” Fish takes the opportunity to explain to you.

Jimmy scoffs while shakin’ his head, not believing this. I guess looks’re deceiving, huh. He thinks to himself in his head as he reaches out to offer you his hand to shake it.

“Jimmy Logan. That bartender you were talkin’ to is my brother Clyde.” Jimmy introduces himself, his tone is defensive, willing to protect his little brother from ‘er. He figures that if you’re a friend o’ Joe Bang, he’d have to be careful with you.

You caught his tone and the sudden tension comin’ from both brothers, but you decided to play it off, used to people underestimating and being uncomfortable with you “Nice ta’ meet ya Jimmy”. You greeted him as you were friendly and shook his hand. You were hoping that Mr. Clyde “the Bartender” Logan would’ve been a good time, after all, your chemistry was so good; and then fate kicks you in the butt, making him find out who you were.

“Likewise.” Jimmy replied politely.

You put your right hand on your cocked hip. “So...Mr. Logan, what’s the job?”

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Hi guys!! I hoped you liked the first chapter. Fist of all let me just say that I apologise for the word count on this first chapter. I usually write about 3k words, maybe 4, but I wanted to establish the tone of the scenes and and ended up writing a lot.

Like it says in the summary this started out as a one shot but then turned into a short fic, which incidentally lets me add more details. Like my other fics; I don’t have a set word count. I got with the flow of the prose until i feel it’s enough.

So let me know what you think, i’d love feedback.

all my love

Selen R :)

Taglists are for friends (let me know you’d like to be added)

89 notes · View notes

go-redgirl · 4 years ago

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Presidents and the press always focus on the first hundred days of a new administration and the initiatives it puts forward.

In Joe Biden’s case, many of his new policies have been established during his first 50 days as president, as he laid out in his first major address to the nation.

The president’s first address was notable not just for what it said but for what it did not say.

Mr. Biden said fighting the COVID-19 pandemic is still job one, and he stressed that the national vaccination program is his main focus.

What he did not say was that this "miracle" program was one he inherited from President Trump, whose "Operation Warp Speed" developed and produced hundreds of millions of vaccines in record time.

Just a year ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, scientists warned that developing a vaccine to fight it could take five or more years.

That would have left the U.S. exposed to COVID-19 for much of the next decade, with devastating consequences to American’s health and our economy.

But the Trump administration spearheaded a successful alliance of government, research centers, and pharmaceutical companies that indeed brought vaccines to the public in "warp speed." Turns out, having a determined President with a businessman’s eye — who tirelessly pushed U.S. bureaucrats to get this job done — was just what the doctor ordered.

Mr. Biden also touted his just passed $1.9 trillion stimulus bill as absolutely necessary to lifting our economy out of the negative economic impacts of the Covid epidemic.

What he did not note was that under President Trump three separate bi-partisan Covid relief bills totaling $3.7 trillion were negotiated to deal with the pandemic.

These previous spending bills helped pull the economy out of the doldrums well before Mr. Biden took the oath of office.

Along with pushing covid vaccinations made possible by Trump’s Operation Warp Speed, Biden initially echoed President Trump’s call to re-open schools.

But when confronted with push-back from powerful teachers’ unions, he backed down.

His press secretary ridiculously insisted that opening schools would be met when half of K-6 classes opened one day a week.

At that rate, schools won’t be fully opened this school year at all, and maybe not even next fall. Children from disadvantaged communities will suffer most.

Some of these children may never make up the time they’ve lost. Instead of "following the science" which indicates that schools can safely re-open, Biden has followed the teachers’ union bosses who put students last.

But the biggest mistake Biden is making is on our southern border.

It seems that his administration so hates anything related to President Trump, it is determined to reverse even those policies that make sense and worked to secure the border.

Trump had negotiated a ground-breaking agreement with Mexico to keep migrants on the Mexican side of the border while their asylum cases are considered by U.S. authorities. This policy had helped stem the flood of illegal immigration into the U.S.

But in the race to undo all things Trump, Biden tore up this historic agreement with Mexico and signaled that illegal immigrants would again be allowed to cross the border into the U.S. and stay here while their legal cases are heard.

This has opened up the floodgates on the border, with thousands of migrants crossing over each day and surrendering to U.S. border authorities. Many of these migrants are "unaccompanied minors" and women with young children who present a particularly daunting challenge to accommodate.

The result is that U.S. migrant holding facilities have been overwhelmed. The very overcrowding conditions that Democrats decried under the Trump administration are being vastly worsened by this ill-considered wide-open-door policy.

No one should be surprised by the pictures of families and kids in holding pens already showing up on the news. But the Biden administration has a "plan" for this too.

It's rapidly releasing thousands of these young immigrants out of detention. Many are just dropped off at local bus stations, presumably to reunite with relatives already here.

It’s anybody’s guess how many of these youngsters end up with child traffickers or into the clutches of gangs like MS13.

This "catch and release" policy is a prescription for disaster on our border. Expect hordes of illegals to heed the call to cross our borders and swamp our immigration system. But not to worry, the Biden team will come up with a "plan" for that too. Just not a good one.

None of this was unforeseen. Elections have consequences. If Biden and the Democrats continue to over-reach and under-perform, there’s always the 2022 midterm elections. If the nation can hold on till then.

Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato served a distinguished 18-year career in the U.S. Senate, where he chaired the Senate Banking Committee and was a member of the Senate Appropriations and Finance Committees.

While in the Senate, Mr. D’Amato also Chaired of the U.S. Commission on Cooperation and Security in Europe (CSCE), and served on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The former Senator is considered an expert in the legislative and political process, who maintains close relationships with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.

He is regularly called upon for his advice and counsel, and is recognized for his incisive analysis of national and international political affairs. The former Senator will share insights gained from his years in Washington “with a clear-eyed view of the political forces that shape the world we live in today.” Read Alfonse D'Amato's Reports — More Here

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talatomaz · 6 years ago

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fresh start | team flash x fem!reader | part vi

a/n: this takes place between season 2 episode 5 and episode 6 and this story is mostly canon with a few things changed

warnings: none

word count: 2.9k

masterlist | request list | request rules

i do not give you permission to repost or translate my fics on any platform - likes/reblogs are okay and are much appreciated

“Are you sure?”

You waved your hand and the guns, that the robbers were currently about to use to shoot at you, flew towards you. With the men disarmed, Barry ran around them and cuffed them.

“Yeah, I’ve doing a lot of thinking and I think it’s the right decision for me.”

After handing the cuffed robbers to Joe and Patty, Barry ran you both back to S.T.A.R Labs.

“Really?”

“Yes, Barry, really.”

“But I’m gonna miss you,” Cisco said, pouting.

“Cisco, I’m not leaving you. I’m still working at S.T.A.R Labs, but I’m just also going to be a detective too.”

“Does my Dad know?” Iris asked, as Barry took off his mask whilst you did the same.

“Yeah, I spoke to him the other day and then when I spoke to Captain Singh, he vouched for me. Which he didn’t have to do because Singh decided to instantly rehire me but I thanked him anyway.”

“But I’m going to miss you.” Cisco repeated, making you all laugh.

After an in-depth discussion with the team about ARGUS, you came to the realisation that since some ARGUS agents were still morally ethical, you wanted to exemplify the work that they do by going back to being a detective. Except this time, you were going to become a field cop rather than someone who dealt with reports and information.

Though you initially had some reserves about going out in the field, the most notable being you changing the future in some way or someone recognising you, you realised that the future was going to change no matter what and you couldn’t stop that. But what you could do is help Barry and the others change it for the better.

And what better way to do that than by being a cop on Joe’s meta-human task force and a meta-human protecting the city?

“Cisco’s right, though, y/n. It’s going to be weird not having you here all the time.”

“Don’t worry, Cait. I’ll still be here more often than you think. I’ll just be wearing a badge most of the time. And I’m not going to let it interfere with the work that we do here. I mean, Barry disappears half of the time and it’s all good.”

“True, I can always just run us both back here and we both get dressed super quick anyways, so it’s not a hassle.”

“So, when do you start, y/n?”

“Today.”

You all turned to the entrance of the cortex where Joe stood.

“Hey, sweetie.” Joe kissed Iris’s forehead.

“Today?” Barry asked.

“Yeah, Singh can’t wait to have you back and quite frankly, neither can I. I’ve been saying for months that you’ve needed to come back.”

“Thanks, Joe.”

“So, you ready to go? Obviously after you take off all that,” Joe gestured to your Meson outfit.

You went into the med bay and not even five minutes later, you came out dressed in a black pantsuit, your wavy hair flowing just past your shoulders.

“Damn, y/n, looking good.” Iris commented as you smirked.

“Thanks, Iris.”

“That was quick, even by my standards.” Barry said.

“Guess you got competition then, Flash.” You said jokingly.

“You ready to go, y/n?” Joe asked.

“I think you mean Detective Davis, Joe.” Caitlin corrected.

You laughed, “I’ll see you guys later. Call if you need me.”

***

“Glad to have you back, Detective Davis.”

“Come on, Patty. We’ve gotten close these past few months, you can call me y/n.” You said, shaking her hand.

“Then, I’m glad to have you back, y/n.” She responded and you smiled.

“So, have the robbers from this morning been processed?” She looked at you confused. “Oh, Joe told me about them earlier.”

She nodded, convinced, “Yeah, they’ve just been transferred to Iron Heights.”

“Okay, so-“

You were interrupted by a breaking news alert on the TV screen and everyone turned their attention to the screen.

“It appears that a meta has broken into an abandoned industrial factory and has stolen some equipment…”

You turned from the TV to Patty and Joe.

“Let’s go,” Joe said, you and Patty followed him out of the police department.

***

“So I’ve just spoken to a couple of witnesses who all said that they saw a man, mid 20s, leaving the scene, driving a red pick-up, but they have no idea what he stole.” Patty said, walking up to you and Joe.

“Yeah, I mean, this factory only stores drills and other tools that you could easily get off any construction site.” You replied, confused.

“I spoke to a guy who used to work here and he told me that the place was officially shut down for unsafe conditions.”

“Unofficially?” You and Patty asked.

“Some guy was trying to manufacture some type of drill that was so high tech, that it could cut through almost anything. That could be quite valuable.”

“Did he say what type?”

“Uh,” Joe looked at his notes, “a 15. amp hammer drill.”

“Damn, that shit can cut through almost anything. And there’s also something that might indicate what the meta’s powers are.”

You showed Patty and Joe to the security system.

“Initially, it was thought that the meta hacked into the system to unlock all the doors, which, at first glance, makes sense. I’m running a check to see if the system was hacked.”

“But you don’t think it was?” Patty asked.

“No, I don’t. I know code, and there’s no record of a line of code anywhere. I’d have to check to be sure, but I think the electrics were manipulated.”

“Meaning what? A meta who can control electricity?”

“Not necessarily, Joe. Everything else was in intact. I think the meta can manipulate controls or at least override them. Basically he can turn things on and off. And lucky for us, his powers seem to be channelled through his hands.”

“You got a print?”

“Yeah, when I get back, I’m going to run it through AFIS and see if we have any hits.”

“Damn, y/n, I forgot how good you were.” Joe stated.

After collecting some more evidence, the three of you went back to the station and you handed some of the samples to Barry for him to analyse.

Then you went to your computer and ran the print through the data systems and whilst you waited, you were talking to Patty about her and Barry.

“So, is it going well between you two then?” You asked, leaning against your desk.

“Yeah, I think so. I mean, one of our first dates was quite memorable.”

“Oh, because he couldn’t see?”

She furrowed her brows.

“Oh, Barry told me when I was at S.T.A.R Labs last week.”

“What do you even do at S.T.A.R Labs? Barry is almost always there.”

“I help Cisco and Caitlin with a lot of tech that they have and we’re all good friends which is probably why Barry’s there a lot.”

She nodded, “So are you seeing anyone?”

You shook your head, “No, I’ve had a few flings here and there but I’m not with anyone right now. Besides-”

You stopped talking when your screen bleeped.

“Looks like we got a match.” You sat in your chair and showed Patty your screen. “Guy’s name is Oscar Cartwright.”

“Yeah, he was arrested for breaking and entering, robbery, and looks like he has a background in construction. Must be how he knew which tools to steal.” Patty suggested.

You printed off the file so you could show it to Joe, “Come on, let’s go.”

After you briefed Joe, he told you and Patty to check out his most recent address but when you got there, it was empty.

It looked as if it hadn’t been used in a while; the only indication that someone was staying there was the unmade bed and discarded clothes around the room. Then you both realised there was a basement and when you went down here, you found blueprints to a building.

As you were about to gain more intel by checking it out further, the laptop, containing the blueprints, began to overheat and exploded in front of the two of you.

“He must have known we were coming and used his powers to destroy any traces he left behind.” Patty said, coming back into the basement after calling CSU.

“Yeah, do you want to stay here whilst I try and figure out what was on the laptop?”

“Yeah, sure, just call if you find something.”

As you walked back up the stairs, you passed Joe,

“Hey, Joe. I’m gonna take this to S.T.A.R Labs to see if Cisco and I can recover what was on here since it looked important.”

“Okay, hopefully it can lead us to this Cartwright guy.”

***

“Getting anywhere?” Caitlin and Iris walked into the cortex and looked at you and Cisco.

“I think so. We’ll most likely be able to recover the data within the next hour.” You responded, as you continued typing.

“Hopefully.” Cisco interrupted. “This meta basically fried the mainframe and we had to reconstruct the circuitry which took ages.”

“We’re glad to have you back though, y/n.” Caitlin said, and you turned around and laughed.

“Cait, I’ve only been gone a day.”

“It feels like longer though.” She said.

“Well, I’ve missed you guys too.”

“So this meta, what exactly are his powers?” Iris asked.

“As best I can tell, he’s able to take control of systems by overcharging the system and-”

“OverCharge.” Cisco interrupted.

“What?” You, Caitlin and Iris looked at Cisco.

He turned around to face the three of you, “OverCharge.” He repeated, “That’s his name.”

You started laughing at the coincidence and it was Cisco’s turn to be confused. “OverCharge. OC. The meta’s name is Oscar Cartwright. I swear these names write themselves.”

You guys had a little mini catchup and after around an hour, you and Cisco were able to recover some of the data and in perfect timing, Barry walked in.

“Anything?”

“I’m just pulling up the blueprints now,” You continued typing and looked through the files, trying to find the right one.

Then you were interrupted by an alert on S.T.A.R Labs police scanner.

“Guys, there’s a runaway train.” Caitlin said so you and Cisco hacked into the subway’s mainframe.

“Shit, this isn’t an accident. I’m giving the command for the train to slow down, but nothing is responding.” You explained.

“It looks like there’s some sort of glitch somewhere that’s not allowing it to respond to commands.”

“Could it be the same meta?” Iris asked.

“Potentially, but Barry, we can’t stop the train from here so you gotta go.” Cisco said, so Barry suited up and ran off.

“I don’t know what OverCharge’s endgame is here. He steals a high tech drill, has blueprints and is now controlling a train? I don’t understand.”

“I think I do. I just managed to access some of the damaged data and he has blueprints to Central City Airport.” Cisco said, displaying the blueprints on the large screen so you could all get a better look.

“Dammit,” you pulled out your phone, called Joe and explained the situation.

“Joe, take Patty. Barry’s going to try and stop the train but I think it’s a distraction. Oscar’s breaking into Central City Airport. If I can, I’ll meet you there. Bye.”

You disconnected the call.

“What would he be stealing though?”

“I think I can answer that.”

Harry Wells walked into the cortex and on another screen, pulled up images of diamonds.

“This was being stored in their private security room.”

“Diamonds?” Cisco asked.

“Very valuable diamonds. Even back on my Earth, they were worth quite a lot. Like $57 million worth.”

You quickly messaged Joe the update so he knew where to look for OverCharge and then you diverted your attention back to the runaway train.

“Holy Shit. Barry, you cannot stop that train!”

“What? Why? I’m just in front of it.”

“Barry, y/n’s right. That train is 23 miles from approaching an unsustainable curve radius.”

“I don’t like the sound of that.” Barry said over the comms.

“We’ve got a major cant issue.”

“There’s no ‘can’t’ when it comes to the Flash.” Iris said.

“No, West, ‘cant’ is the name of the height difference between the outside and inside rails on a track curve.” Harry explained.

“The tilt creates a down-thrust to counter sideways force.” Cisco continued.

“And at the current speed of the train, the ‘cant’ can’t work.” You said.

“The train will derail.” Caitlin finished.

“So what do I do?”

Barry shouted over the comms and you quickly ran into the med bay and got changed into your suit whilst Harry explained what the Flash should do.

“You have approximately 7 minutes before that train reaches the curve. You need to phase onto the train and gain access of the controls.”

“Scratch that.”

You ran out of the med bay and back to the centre of the cortex, now dressed in your Meson suit.

“Barry, run back to S.T.A.R Labs now!” You said as you grabbed your mask.

“Why?”

“We don’t have time. Just do it!”

In, well, a flash, Barry was beside you. You picked up your laptop and grabbed his arm.

“Take me to the train now.”

“But-”

“Now!”

He picked you up and ran you to the station where you could hear the incoming train.

“You have to phase us both on there, Barry. I’ll be able to connect my laptop to the controls and gain access and manually slow the train down before we reach the curve.”

“But, y/n-”

“Trust me, I got this.”

You heard the sounds of the train getting closer and with your arm wrapped around Barry’s, he phased you both onto the train. It was a weird feeling. It was like pins and needles all over your entire body.

The moment you both were on the train, the Flash began to calm people down and you ran to the front of the carriage and used your powers to open the locked door.

As expected, the control system was fried, so you plugged your laptop into the train’s software and after 2 minutes, you were able to regain control of the train and managed to slow the train down.

But, to your surprise, it ended up gaining even more speed due to the sudden change.

You ran out of the control room and hacked into the P.A system, “Guys, I want you all to remain calm. The Flash is going to get you all off of here so could you all try and activate your emergency doors by pulling the cable just above the door.”

Barry came up beside you. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to stop this train but just in case, I need you to get everyone off of here.”

“Meson, it’s not safe.”

“I know and that’s why I need you to do this, Flash.”

Then you shouted to the rest of the people in your carriage, “Guys, can you all move onto the next carriage, please?”

They all obeyed and you told Barry to follow them.

“The moment I disconnect this carriage, the rest of the train will come to a stop, allowing everyone to get to safety.”

“Meson, what about you?”

“I’ll have 3 minutes to stop this carriage.”

“What happens if you don’t?” He asked.

“I will. I promise. Go do your job, Flash.”

You quickly disconnected the carriages and ran back to the control room and began typing.

“Y/n, you’re 7 miles from the curve and you’re approaching fast.” Cisco shouted over the comms.

“You gotta hurry, y/n. You only have a few minutes.” Caitlin said, worry clearly in her voice.

“A few minutes is all I need.”

You continued hacking into the system and was able to override all the systems, except the one that led to the train gaining even more speed and you knew there was only one more option.

“Y/n, you have 30 seconds!” Iris shouted over comms.

You shut your laptop and as you heard the screech of the train tracks, you ran to the centre of the carriage.

“15 seconds!” Cisco warned.

With all your energy, you used your powers to channel through the tracks so you could slow it down. The train came to a halt, just mere metres from the curve radius. You exhaled a deep breath in relief.

“Y/N!” Everyone shouted over comms.

“MESON, YOU GOOD?!” Barry yelled.

“I’m good, guys. The train’s stopped.” You heard everyone let out a relieved sigh.

After stopping the train and helping everyone off the other carriages, Barry ran you back to S.T.A.R Labs where you both got changed and then met Patty and Joe at Central City Airport, just in time to catch Cartwright red-handed. Now OverCharge was sitting in the meta-human wing in Iron Heights amongst the other meta-human criminals.

***

The following morning, before going to CCPD, you went to S.T.A.R Labs to meet Caitlin, Cisco and everyone else.

“You were amazing yesterday, y/n.” Caitlin said when you walked into the cortex.

“She’s right. You killed it.” Cisco stated.

“And it looks like the rest of Central City feels the same way.” Barry walked in with Joe and Iris and switched on the news.

“Ever since the heroic save by Meson yesterday, there has been an outcry of support for her.”

The news cut to a few interviews from people who were on the train.

“She was amazing. She was so calm and was willing to sacrifice herself for all of us.”

“I think Meson is inspiring. I’m so glad we finally have a female superhero.”

“I love her. She’s definitely my role model.”

The screen then cut back to the news reporter.

“There you have it. Move over, Flash, looks like Central City has a new superhero.”

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adorableipodreview-blog · 5 years ago

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Best Adorble i Pod 2020

Apple is the uncontested ruler of tablets. The word iPad is equivalent with "tablet." Chances are on the off chance that you own a tablet by any means, you have an iPad.

Macintosh's tablet setup is more shifted than any time in recent memory, and a fresh out of the box new iPad joined the group a year ago. At $329.99, the 10.2-inch iPad is the least expensive iPad Apple has ever sold, yet it's very ground-breaking, bolsters the Apple Pencil, and is frequently on special for as low as $249.99.

The remainder of the iPads are similarly slick and incredible (if not more so). We've tried almost every iPad that has been discharged in the course of recent years, and these are the most perfectly awesome iPads you can purchase.

Here are the best iPads in 2020:

Best iPad in general: 2019 10.2-inch iPad

Best mid-go iPad: 10.5-inch iPad Air

Best little iPad: 7.9-inch iPad Mini

Best iPad Pro: 11-and-12.9-inch iPad Pro

Best iPad pointer: Apple Pencil

Best iPad console: Logitech K780

Refreshed on 2/13/2020 by Joe Osborne: Updated costs, realities, and arranging. Expelled 9.7-inch iPad as it's not, at this point ready to move in new condition.

The best iPad by and large

On the off chance that you own a maturing iPad or iPad Mini, the 10.2-inch iPad is an incredible update. Clearly, in the event that you have an iPad Air 2 or an iPad Pro, you don't have to get the upgraded one. The iPad is for any individual who has consistently needed an iPad, yet couldn't bear the cost of the $500-in addition to sticker price.

The 2,160 x 1,620-pixel goal on the 10.2-inch model is sharp and clear. The A10 processor is as yet competent (despite the fact that it's not the iPhone 11's A13 chip), the battery life is long, and you can even purchase things on iPad with Apple Pay, on account of the Touch ID unique finger impression sensor.

The best part is that this iPad bolsters the original Apple Pencil, an unfathomable pointer with for all intents and purposes no slack. You should pay $100 extra for the Pencil, however in the event that you like to take notes or draw on your iPad, it is well justified, despite all the trouble. Normally, any Bluetooth console additionally works with the iPad, so on the off chance that you need to utilize it as a semi PC, you can get an incredible console.

You essentially can't beat those specs at that value point. Tantamount Android tablets cost several dollars more, and the iPad despite everything has a superior application library and embellishment support.

The aluminum manufacture looks and feels premium. Both iPads are very light, as well, so you can joyfully marathon watch Netflix in bed or take them with you. Tech geeks will say the iPads have an exhausting old structure, however it's dependable. Additionally, the aluminum fabricate is solid.

Geniuses: Incredible cost for an iPad, smooth aluminum configuration, Touch ID for security and Apple Pay, dazzling screen, bolsters the Apple Pencil

The best mid-extend iPad

The new iPad Air sits directly in the center of Apple's iPad arrangement with its totally estimated screen, $499.99 cost, and extraordinary specs.

In the event that you don't need an iPad Pro, however you don't need the Mini and you won't bargain and get lesser specs, the iPad Air is the tablet for you. It sits directly in the center of the iPad setup, and it has all that you need.

The new iPad Air keeps a similar generally speaking structure as past age iPad Air models, so it has the Home catch and bigger bezels contrasted with the new iPad Pro models.

In spite of the fact that it appears to be identical, there's a great deal of new tech inside. The new Air runs on Apple's A12 Bionic chip, so it's quick and responsive. The tablet likewise bolsters the original Apple Pencil, which is generally viewed as the best pointer for drawing on a tablet, and it has a sharp 10.5-inch True Tone screen with a goal of 2,224 × 1,668 pixels.

You can purchase the iPad Air with either 64GB or 256GB of capacity, and it comes in three shading choices: Silver, Space Gray, or Gold. You can likewise pick either a Wi-Fi-just association or a blend of cell and Wi-Fi associations.

Close by the iPad Air, Apple is likewise selling a Smart Keyboard, which is incredible for those of you who need to utilize your tablet as a PC when there's no other option, however it's no iPad Pro. On the off chance that you need to accomplish more with your tablet, we suggest the Pro models.

Aces: Good value, pleasant sharp screen, works with the Pencil, new processor

The best little iPad

The iPad Mini was at long last refreshed in 2019 with every single new spec and backing for Apple's Pencil pointer inside a similar plan.

At the point when the first iPad Mini came out, I needed it right away. I've never preferred large tablets, and its little size appeared to be great. I'm not the only one in my affection for little tablets, yet for a considerable length of time, Apple has left the iPad Mini arrangement to mull without an update — as of recently.

The 2019 iPad Mini is Apple's spending plan amicable little tablet. It might not have the new plan we were seeking after — those thick bezels are still there alongside the home catch — however it has all the most recent specs we needed in this update.

It's controlled by the ultra-ground-breaking A12 Bionic chip, and it underpins the original Apple Pencil. We're excited Apple gave the Mini Pencil support, as it's the best pointer we've at any point utilized, and it makes the Mini an extraordinary tablet for note taking or drawing.

The Mini's True Tone, 7.9-inch screen has a sharp 2,048 x 1,536 pixel goal, as well, so you can truly appreciate watching recordings, perusing, and making on the screen.

You can pick between 64GB or 256GB of capacity and three shading alternatives: Silver, Space Gray, or Gold). On the off chance that you need to hold the cost down, you can get the Wi-Fi-just form, however there is likewise a Mini with both cell and Wi-Fi associations.

Geniuses: Compact, reasonable, new processor, sharp screen, works with the Pencil

The best iPad Pro

Mac's iPad Pro comes in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes with equipment inside that is so top of the line these tablets can outperform a few PCs.

The new iPad Pro is a masterpiece. The tablet has thinned down bezels, a dazzling sharp screen in two sizes, a ludicrously amazing processor, and huge amounts of incredible accomplices to go with it, including the Apple Pencil.

You can get it in 11-and 12.9-inch screen sizes to suit your inclinations. The 12.9-inch screen is incredible for advanced specialists who need space to meander, while the 11-inch model is extraordinary for the vast majority's needs. Both iPad Pros have truly elevated screen goals: 2,388-by-1,668 pixels (11-inch model) and 2,732-by-2,048 pixels (12.9-inch model).

Notwithstanding which model you purchase, the iPad Pro is a force to be reckoned with. The A12X Bionic processor is so powerful it can outperform a few PCs. Apple's entrance level model accompanies 64GB of capacity, yet you can get up to 1TB on the off chance that you need to go through a ton of cash.

We suggest getting the new Apple Pencil in the event that you like to take notes or draw. It might cost $129.00, yet it is justified, despite all the trouble. The Apple Pencil is the best pointer I've at any point utilized, and the new form even charges remotely and attractively connects to your iPad for simple stockpiling.

Apple's Keyboard will likewise cost you a chunk of change, so we suggest going for an outsider case and console.

There are three drawbacks to the iPad Pro, from our perspective: It's costly, it won't supplant your PC, and you need to pay extra for the console and the pointer. Something else, it's an extraordinary tablet that is definitely justified even despite the expense — on the off chance that you have the cash.

Masters: Gorgeous screens, new plan with littler bezels, amazing specs, very good quality execution, Pencil is brilliant for drawing, two screen sizes

The best pointer

The original Apple Pencil is the best for the 9.7-inch and 10.5-inch iPads, while the second-age pointer is perfect for the new 11-and-12.9-inch iPad Pro models.

Throughout the years, I've tried a ton of pointers from organizations like Adonit, 53, Wacom, and the sky is the limit from there. None of those pointers can measure up to the Apple Pencil. Regardless of whether you purchase the original Pencil or the second, you're getting a pointer that was made by Apple couple with the iPad.

Accordingly, the Pencil works with the iPads' screens in uncommon manners that no different pointer can. The outcome is improved weight affectability and an astonishingly low degree of dormancy. You won't notice a slack since it's vague. At the point when you utilize an Apple Pencil, you really feel like you're utilizing an ordinary graphite pencil.

There are a couple of contrasts between the first-and second-age Pencils: the second-gen model has remote charging and attractively appends to the side of the iPad and it was made for the new 11-and 12.9-inch iPad Pros, while the primary gen Pencil is for the more seasoned 9.7-inch iPad and the 10.5-inch iPad Pro. The original Pencil likewise works with the 2019 iPad Mini and iPad Air. The principal gen Pencil accuses of a lightning port on the end and doesn't connect to your iPad. It's likewise somewhat less expensive.

Pick whichever sounds good to you, however the second-gen Pencil's simpler charging technique and attractive fascination in the iPad make it a victor in our book.

Stars: It works with even the least expensive 9.7-inch iPad, absence of dormancy, pressure affectability, made for the iPad's screen, simple to charge, agreeable to hold

The best console for your iPad

The Logitech K780 works with any gadget, associates remotely, and offers a full-sized console with fulfilling keys for composing.

The Logitech K780 is the best Bluetooth console for pretty much any gadget, including the iPad. Without a doubt, it is anything but a console case, so it won't secure your iPad and give a console, yet that implies you get a full-sized console with a number cushion and fulfilling keys that have great travel.

The K780 bolsters associations with various gadgets, so you can utilize it with your iPad, telephone, and PC on the off chance that you need. The roundabout keys are agreeable to type on in light of the fact that they are full size. Logitech additionally consolidated a tablet and telephone remain into the console's plan, so it's anything but difficult to prop your iPad up without expecting to purchase a different stand or case.

The main drawbacks here are that it needs AAA batteries to run and it's not the most compact console you can purchase. On the off chance that you need an increasingly versatile alternative, the foldable iClever Ultra Slim 3 Keyboard overlap up to 33% of its measure and can be utilized in both remote and wir.. Read more

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tindez · 5 years ago

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In the end, the evidence was inescapable. “The president did in fact pressure a foreign government to corrupt our election process,” Romney said. “And really, corrupting an election process in a democratic republic is about as abusive and egregious an act against the Constitution—and one's oath—that I can imagine. It's what autocrats do.” [...] I found Romney filled with what seemed like righteous indignation about the president’s misconduct—quoting hymns and scripture, expressing dismay at his party, and bracing for the political backlash. [...] “I get that a lot—‘Be with the president,’” Romney told me, sounding slightly perplexed. “And I’ll say, ‘Regardless of his point of view? Regardless of the issue?’ And they say yes. And … it’s like, ‘Well, no, I can’t do that.’”

While I disagree with Mitt Romney on many things, I find it heartening to see a Republican who definitely thought this through and stuck to his convictions. Country over party! Kudos to him and to Utah.

So, I’m sharing this with y’all. Stay optimistic! Sometimes those we disagree with can still get work done alongside us.

(full article under the cut for those without access to The Atlantic)

POLITICS How Mitt Romney Decided Trump Is Guilty Comparing the president’s behavior to that of an autocrat, the Republican senator explains to The Atlantic why he’s voting to convict him. MCKAY COPPINS 2:03 PM ET Mitt Romney didn’t want to go through with it. “This has been the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life,” he told me yesterday afternoon in his Senate office. Roughly 24 hours later, Romney would deliver a speech announcing that he was voting to convict President Donald Trump on the first article of impeachment—abuse of power. For weeks, the senator from Utah had sat silently in the impeachment trial alongside his 99 colleagues, reviewing the evidence at night and praying for guidance. The gravity of the moment weighed on him, as did the pressure from members of his own party to acquit their leader. As his conscience tugged at him, he said, the exercise took on a spiritual dimension. Romney, a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, described to me the power of taking an oath before God: “It’s something which I take very seriously.” Throughout the trial, he said, he was guided by his father’s favorite verse of Mormon scripture: Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good. “I have gone through a process of very thorough analysis and searching, and I have prayed through this process,” he told me. “But I don’t pretend that God told me what to do.” In the end, the evidence was inescapable. “The president did in fact pressure a foreign government to corrupt our election process,” Romney said. “And really, corrupting an election process in a democratic republic is about as abusive and egregious an act against the Constitution—and one's oath—that I can imagine. It's what autocrats do.” According to Romney’s interpretation of Alexander Hamilton’s treatise on impeachment in “Federalist No. 65”—which he says he’s read “multiple, multiple times”—Trump’s attempts to enlist the Ukrainian president in interfering with the 2020 election clearly rose to the level of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” (He told me he would not vote to convict on the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress.) Romney’s vote will do little to reorient the political landscape. The president’s acquittal has been all but certain for weeks, as Republicans have circled the wagons to protect Trump. But the Utahan’s sharp indictment ensures that at least one dissenting voice from within the president’s party will be on the record—and Romney seems to believe history will vindicate his decision. He also knows his vote will likely make him a pariah on the right. Already, he says, he’s experienced firsthand the ire of the base. At an airport recently, a stranger yelled at him, “You ought to be ashamed!” During a trip to Florida with his wife this past weekend, someone shouted “Traitor!” from a car window. Eight years ago, he was the leader of the Republican Party, its nominee for president. Today, he has become accustomed to a kind of political loneliness. Romney famously opposed Trump’s candidacy in 2016, and while the rest of his party has fallen in line since then, he has remained stubbornly independent—infuriating Trump, who routinely derides him in public as a “pompous ass” and worse. As I wrote last year, this dynamic seems to have liberated the senator in a way that’s unlike anything he has experienced in his political career. Still, when the senator invited me to his Capitol Hill office yesterday, I was unsure what he would reveal. Romney had been largely silent throughout the impeachment proceedings, giving little indication of which way he was leaning. I half-expected to find a cowed and calculating politician ready with a list of excuses for caving. (His staff granted the interview on the condition that it would be embargoed until he took to the Senate floor.) Instead, I found Romney filled with what seemed like righteous indignation about the president’s misconduct—quoting hymns and scripture, expressing dismay at his party, and bracing for the political backlash. Romney confessed that he’d spent much of the impeachment trial hoping a way out would present itself: “I did not want to get here.” In fact, that was part of the reason he wanted former National Security Adviser John Bolton to testify about what Trump had told him. “I had the hope that he would be able to say something exculpatory and create reasonable doubt, so I wouldn't have to vote to convict,” Romney said. Still, he found the case presented by the president’s defense team unpersuasive. Romney had a hard time believing, for example, that Trump had been acting out of a desire to crack down on corruption when he tried to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. The Bidens’ alleged conflicts of interest may have been “ugly,” Romney said, but it was never established that they warranted a criminal investigation. “No crime was alleged by the defense, and yet the president went to an extreme level to investigate these two people … and for what purpose?” The only motive that made sense, he determined, was a political one. Romney was similarly unmoved by the Trump attorney Alan Dershowitz’s contention that a president who believes his reelection is in the national interest can’t be impeached for pursuing a political advantage. “I had Professor Dershowitz for criminal law in law school,” Romney said, “and he was known to occasionally take his argument to its illogical conclusion.” Nor was the senator swayed by the theory that a president can be impeached only for breaking a statutory law. “To use an old Mormon hymn phrase, that makes reason stare,” he said. “The idea that Congress would have to anticipate all of the offensive things a president could possibly do, and then make them a statute?” Romney posed a hypothetical: What if the president decided to pardon every Republican in prison nationwide, while leaving every Democrat locked up? “There’s no law against that!” he said. “So it’s not a crime or misdemeanor. But it’s obviously absurd.” When I asked Romney why none of his fellow Republicans had reached the same conclusion, he attempted diplomacy. “I’m not going to try and determine the thinking or motives of my colleagues,” he said. “I think it’s a mistake for any senator to try and get in the head of another senator and judge them.” But as he discussed the various rationalizations put forth by other Republican senators, he seemed to grow exasperated. He took particular issue with the idea—currently quite trendy in his caucus—that Trump’s fate should be decided at the ballot box, not in the Senate. “I would have liked to have abdicated my responsibility as I understood it under the Constitution and under the writing of the Founders by saying, ‘Let’s leave this to the voters.’” But, he said, “I’m subject to my own conscience.” When I asked how it felt to be formally disinvited from this month’s Conservative Political Action Conference, he laughed and noted that he hadn’t attended the conference since 2013. But it seems clear that his journey from GOP standard-bearer to party supervillain has been jarring. “I was under the misimpression that what brought Republican voters together was conviction in a certain number of policy points of view,” Romney said. He recalled a political strategist during one of his early campaigns explaining how to court the three main factions of the GOP coalition—social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and foreign-policy hawks. Much of Romney’s career since then has been spent trying to win over ideological purists on the right. In 2012, he said, some Tea Party activists refused to support him, because he didn’t have a plan to balance the federal budget within a single year. Now the conservative movement is ruled by a president who routinely makes a mockery of such litmus tests. Deficit reduction? “There’s no purchase for that,” Romney said. Foreign policy? “The letters with Kim Jong Un didn’t seem to frighten people away … The meeting with the Russian ambassador in the White House right after the election didn’t seem to bother people.” Somehow, Romney said, he is the one constantly being told that he needs to “be with the president.” “I get that a lot—‘Be with the president,’” Romney told me, sounding slightly perplexed. “And I’ll say, ‘Regardless of his point of view? Regardless of the issue?’ And they say yes. And … it’s like, ‘Well, no, I can’t do that.’” For now, Romney said, he is bracing for an uncertain political future. He said he can’t predict whether Trump will emerge from the impeachment battle emboldened or constrained, but he doubts the experience has shaken him: “I think what’s fair to say about the president is that he doesn’t change his ways a lot.” Nor is he expecting that their relationship will be easily repaired. (“We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it,” he joked.) Romney acknowledged that his vote to convict may hamper his own ability to legislate, at least for a while. “I don’t know how long the blowback might exist or how strenuous it might be, but I’m anticipating a long time and a very strong response.” Though he said he won’t make an endorsement in this year’s presidential election, Romney was clear that he will not cast a ballot for Trump. But, he said, “under no circumstances would I vote for Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren to become president of the United States.” In 2016, he wrote in his wife’s name, and he told me, “She’ll probably get [a] second vote.” For months, Romney’s detractors on both the right and the left have searched for an ulterior motive to his maneuvering, convinced that a secret cynicism lurked beneath his lofty appeals to conscience and principle. Just last week, the Washington Examiner ran a story speculating that the senator might be positioning himself for a presidential run in 2024. When I asked Romney about the report, he erupted in laughter. “Yes! That’s it! They caught me!” he proclaimed. “Look at the base I have! It’s going to be at least 2 or 3 percent of the Republican Party. As goes Utah, so goes the nation!” The truth is that Romney’s decisive break with Trump could end up hurting him even in Utah, a red state where the president is uncommonly unpopular. What that means for his reelection prospects, the senator couldn’t say. (He doesn’t have to face voters again until 2024.) But as he thought about it, another hymn came to mind. “Do what is right; let the consequence follow,” he recited. “And I don’t know what all the consequences will be.” We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to [email protected]. MCKAY COPPINS is a staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of The Wilderness, a book about the battle over the future of the Republican Party.

#politics #impeachment #gop #donald trump #mitt romney #utah #christianity #the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints #religion #usa #the atlantic #mckay coppins #positivity

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peggysousfan · 6 years ago

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Conman AU

Hi guys! I saw a post about a fic they wouldn’t write, several post actually, so I decided to pick them up and write them out. I give credit to that person who came up with these and the photo collages. All I did was write the story. The story is: Peggy and Daniel are con artists trying to get back on the straight and narrow. Then their old boss, Joe Manfredi, pulls them in for one more job. The target: billionaire Hugh Jones. Hope you all enjoy! :)

As the night begins to turn into day, the birds sing their morning serande, waking the two lovers in bed. The woman stirs first, snuggling closer to her man as he wraps his arms around her tighter. She rests her head above his heart and her arm to his chest; grazing a hand within his hair. He chuckles and tenderly kisses her head.

"Morning, Peg." He smiles.

"Good morning, my darling." She says in return, placing fervent and slow kisses over his torso. He chuckles again and brings her body flush with his.

"So what's on the agenda today..." Peggy reaches up and brings her face to his, catching his lips in hers. They kiss until they are out of breath, leaving Daniel to embrace her closer.

"I'm not sure...I thought we agreed to take it easy for a while. No more rough jobs."

"That we did," He caresses her back, making her moan softly and arch into him, "But we're running low on cash. And neither of us has found an actual...normal job yet." As he says this, she laughs lightly.

"Normal? Honestly Daniel." She rolls onto her back an turns to face him. "We're so use to this life, its much more difficult to go back." He turns on his side and kisses her neck.

"I know. But we gotta find something soon. We can't keep living in these run down motels." Peggy closes her eyes and sighs, asking him why not. "Because, Peg, you deserve better." And this brings another laugh from her. Daniel hovers above her as he speaks, both hands on either side of her face. "It's true, amor. You deserve the world. And I can't give it to you if we're living like this, struggling to make ends meet. I know we said we should leave our old life, start over together... but I think we need the money."

"Daniel...we agreed. I cant see you get hurt again. It nearly killed me seeing you like that." He lays his own head on her chest and places his hand over her waist. Bringing her some comfort before she indulges in that horrific memory.

"I know." He kisses her softly as he sets up on his elbows, looking down to her again. His hand playing with the necklace he stole for her. A small, golden, circle with an engraving. It reminded her of her old home in London so he took it while they were on an old assignment. Now he can't do that anymore. "No more thieving, manipulating, or conning. Just us and the real world."

"Together." She says, lacing their hands together, placing one more kiss on her lovers lips. When he pulls away, she chases after his lips, bringing a laugh out of him. They get out of bed and dress for the day. Daniel wears a plain, beige office shirt with a blazer, and some khakis. Peggy wears her lower cut pink blouse and her navy skirt. As the two walk about the town, getting ready to enter a diner, they're stopped by an old college... Joe Manfredi.

"Well this can't be good." Daniel mutters as they follow him to his covert cover of an italian restaurant. As they enter the building, they walk to the back and sit down at the table.

"I see you two have gotten...close." Peggy and Daniel share a smirk, but don't indulge in his observation. "Oh I see how it is. No kissing and telling. Alright, I'll respect that." And the two lovers chuckle. "So. Let's get down to business."

"And what business would that be, Manfredi? We told you we were out."

"I know. I remember." He looks at Peggy. "But I got one more job for the two of ya. And then that's it. I won't bother you again after this."

"Why us?" Daniel speaks. "You have dozens of guys who work for you. Why bring us back?"

"Well Danny boy...that's because you two are the best at what you do. And none of my guys would be able to pull this job off half as cleanly as I need it to be done."

"And what job is that?" She asks, leaning back in her chair, arm against the back.

"How does a billion dollar job sound?" Daniel and Peggy straighten up and share a glance. "Now of course, me and my guys get most of it. But you two can walk away with a million each. At the least." They perk up at their strike of luck and listen to the plan. "The billion dollar man himself, Hugh Jones. He's got an estate that we need to get into. Heavy security and of course...its locked up nice and tight. The only way in is with his special access key."

"Can't we duplicate it?"Peggy asks, brow raised as if its the most logical option.

"Unfortunately no. It's impossible to remake something as unique as this one. You'll never get a good enough replica to pull it off." At this they both curse under their breaths. "But, I was thinking you two can do your thing and sneak into his main office, steal the key, and be on your way."

"Sounds easy enough." Daniel exclaims. "We've dealt with a lot more than breaking and entering into a billionaire's front door." And Peggy hums in agreement. "So when do we start?"

"How's about today." And then they get to work.

Joe Manfredi draws out the plans for the estate and where the load of cash is; along with the main office Jones works at. They go over his day-to-day schedule and talk about when it's best to break in to find the access key. For hours they go over this, learning the ins and the outs of the plan; preparing to finish it all tomorrow. They all are offered plates of spaghetti, all except Peggy. She looks offended by Manfredi's Nona; so Nona says something that isn't in English, points at Peg, and spits on the ground.

"She thinks you're the devil." Manfredi laughs, and she simply rolls her eyes and focuses on the plan. When night begins to set in, Peggy and Daniel leave the restaurant; hand in hand.

"You wanna go out somewhere to eat?" Daniel asks. She turns to him with a smirk on her face.

"What? Are you not stuffed from eating Nona's spaghetti?" He laughs at her and shakes his head.

"You know I hardly ate any of it." She nudges him playfully as the continue to walk down the street.

"Besides, we have no money right now to go out." He looks at her with a sly smile as he stops walking, and reaches into his coat pocket. "No! Daniel!" She squeals. "Where did you-"

"Shh." He laughs, giving her the cash. "I took it off of that lady you bumped into this morning. Before went into the diner." As he says this, Peggy looks at him in wonder, frozen in place. "What?" She laughs and snogs him silly.

"Have I told you how much I love you today?" She chuckles.

"No, not today." He wolfishly grins. "But you can show me when after dinner."

"Why wait?" Peggy grins in return, dragging him back to their hotel room.

As they next day rolls in, the two con artist roll out and into their car. They use the money lent to them by Manfredi to purchase everything they needed for disguises. Daniel wears a plain office suit as an undercover man wanting an interview and Peggy wears a skirt and blouse with a wig, disguised as a secretary. The plan is to have Daniel distract Jones during the interview while Peggy sneaks in his office to find the access key. Everything is going smoothly in the beginning, until Jones appears as she looks through the filing cabinet.

"What's your name, darling?" She startles and turns to him, quickly going into actress mode.

"Good morning, Mr. Hugh- I mean Mr. Jones." Peggy says in her perfected american accent. "I was sent to grad a file for accounting. Something about the bank records being unorthodox and needing this file for a new personnel." "Oh don't I know it. I was just getting ready to do an interview now, but once I get back, I think I can help give you some special attention when I get back. Maybe a more...attentive job than fetching files for those dull slugs." She chuckles and watches him leave.

"Arrogant plonker." She mumbles as she gets down form the ladder and continues to search. For several minutes she looks, but finds nothing. And as if her luck hasn't been tossed already, Jones appears in his office.

"Oh, well hello again." He flirts. "Can I help you with something?" He walks over to her as she smiles. She stares blankly for an excuse, but comes up blank.

"Well I was, uhm..." But then an idea surfaces in her mind, and she half leans against his desk. "I was just waiting...for the special help you said you would provide." She smiles, flirtatiously, as he walks closer. She's trapped and has no idea what to do next; that is, until she reads the sign on his wall. It read 'the key to success is on you'. Peggy then realizes exactly where the key is located; Jones has it on him. He stands in front of her, and raising to her waist.

"I see. Well how about we go look over those...files and get started." He winks. And while he is distracted she shoves him, causing him to loose balance. He looks up from the floor, surprised. "Well if you wanted to get straight to the point then-" But she cuts him off with a solid right hook; knocking him unconscious.

"Disgusting pig," She mumbles as she stands over him looking for the key. She finds it hidden in his belt and takes it. When she leaves, she finds Daniel waiting in the car. "Ready to go?"

"Damn right." Daniel exclaims. "I hate this dull ass office." She laughs at him before placing a kiss on his cheek.

"Our new salary awaits," She smirks. And with that, they drive off to meet Manfredi.

When they get to the cover restaurant, they all go over the plan on the estate they'll be breaking into. It's a large building with tight security, an electrical fence, and vaults with their own lock. They needed the spacial key to get into the front door, then they're on their own.

"Sound like a plan?" Joe says. The lovers exchange a glance, but shrug nonetheless and agree to the plan.

When the arrive at the building, the disarm the electrical fence with a device stolen from the SSR. Daniel ushers Peggy to go through the back way while he takes the front, and then they will meet up inside. Everything seemed to be going as planned, but Daniel still hasn't showed. She starts to get worried and leave her post, when he suddenly appears.

"Daniel?" She rushes over to him and examines the cut above his eye.

"Come on, we'll deal with my injuries later. We have a job to do," He smirks before kissing her, then unlocking the door with the access key. "Ready?"

"As ever." She says, still worried about him. He drags her along and they work their way through the maze of a building, before they finally reach the vault the need. It's the biggest of them all, which means its loaded with all the cash. "Alright...lets get our paycheck." She smirks. Peggy pulls out her lock pick and breaks in without any problems. She looks to her love and they both smile before taking the loot.

"Jackpot." Daniel exclaims. They grab everything they can and make a hasty exit. As they leave, Manfredi and his crew are waiting on the other side.

"Well look what we have here." He laughs. "I knew you two could pull it off." He looks at all the cash and then back at them. "Of course you got nicked." Manfredi shakes his head at Daniel and they all laugh; including Daniel himself.

"Yeah yeah, whatever. Its one cut." They all laugh again and are handed their share of the money, along with a bandage for Daniel. The gang leaves with their hare, leaving the lovers alone.

"Your're hurt," Peggy says, rubbing the bandage above his eye.

"It's okay, amor. I'll live," He chuckles. But he can still see the worry in her eyes. "Hey...we got the job done and walked away with 2 million dollars. 2 million, Peg!. We are set for life. No more run down motels, no more struggles, no more dangerous cons; just us." She looks at him, hesitant, but smiles under his gaze.

"Promise?"

"Promise." And the two meet in the middle for a tender kiss; which only grows hungrier by the second. "Lets go home." She laughs and they get in their car, driving away to start their new lives.

#peggysous #peggy carter #daniel sousa #Peggy x Daniel #au fanfic #not my au #someone elses idea #just my story #peggysous > steggy #fanfic

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candy--heart · 6 years ago

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If we nominate a candidate plagued by a litany of disqualifying issues, Trump will win. We can’t make that mistake again.

---- ---- ----

JOE BIDEN

has been personally involved in nearly every bad policy decision of the last 50 years. Currently coasting on name recognition and association with Obama, he can only go down from here as people realize he is more comparable to Trump than he is to anyone else. With all the negatives of Hillary’s failed campaign but none of the positives, he would almost surely see us lose the general election again. If you love your grandchildren at all please do not vote for Biden.

TOP 5 HIGHLIGHTS:

Led the fight against desegregating schools even years after it had been proven a success and defended by Republicans [Expanded 7/6]

Voted for the disastrous Iraq War, then escalated it, then lied about it, still says he’d “do it again,” and just hired a foreign policy advisor who helped Bush orchestrate the war before joining a lobbying firm for the military-industrial complex [Expanded 8/13, 8/29, 9/6]

Wrote the racist Crime Bill that intentionally led to record-breaking mass incarceration, positioning himself to the right of even Reagan and Bush

Opposed Roe v Wade and voted to allow states to overturn it like they are now, worked to undermine the ACA’s coverage of birth control, does “not view abortion as a choice and a right” and still opposed federal funding for it multiple times including during this election

Long history of creepily/patronizingly groping/sniffing/kissing/grabbing/condescending women and young girls just so many times, even including intimidation and continuing even now after his non-apology [Expanded 10/14, 10/29, 11/9]

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL:

Racist comments like this and this, and fondness towards if not impassioned support for so many of the worst racists and segregationists like this whom he chose to work with, as well as Republicans like George Bush, Dick Cheney, Mike Pence, and Jeb Bush. Generally has no understanding of racism in America [Expanded 7/27, 8/8, 9/13]

As part of his crusade against desegregating schools he was the only member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to block two black appointees to the Department of Justice

Has lied about marching in the Civil Rights movement multiple times, and seems to lie about attending an HBCU [Expanded 8/31, 10/29]

Horrible treatment of Anita Hill during Clarence Thomas hearing

Supports cutting Social Security and Medicare and raising the retirement age on multiple occasions, backing Paul Ryan’s efforts to do so, while voting to gut welfare

Led the disastrous War on Drugs, and somehow still opposes cannabis legalization (while simultaneously trying to destroy the growing industry by handing it over to the Big Pharma), yet two of his children escaped consequences for drug use [Expanded 8/31]

Pushed to expand death penalty, even to those on drug charges

Opposes Medicare for All while he and his campaign lie about it what it would entail, and wants to bring back penalizing those who can’t afford to pay for private insurance. He continues to praise Big Pharma to his ultra-wealthy donors and is the only candidate to refuse to meet with disabled healthcare activist Ady Barkan [Expanded 7/6, 7/27, 9/21, 10/14]

Originally claimed he “doesn’t have time” to propose his own healthcare plan, then proposed one that would kill 125,000 Americans and leave over 10 million uninsured (which he’s lied about) in a rollout sponsored by Big Pharma (even his own wife admits he’s not good on healthcare, and he’s let slip the true reality of his proposal) [Expanded 7/6, 7/27, 8/19, 8/26, 10/14]

Personally fought to make cancer medication unaffordable for patients in developing nations [Added 10/14]

Opposed equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community even very recently, only eventually coming around just 7 short years ago, and is still awkward at best on the issue [Expanded 9/22, 10/14]

Supported the NRA in passing massive anti-gun control legislation, and has blamed videos games for mass shootings multiple times [Expanded 8/5]

Opposes meaningful action on the climate crisis like the Green New Deal, instead pursuing the “middle ground” while his campaign attacks publications for accurately reporting this

He’s rated D- by Greenpeace in part because he supports fracking, oil and gas exportation, and the building of new fossil fuel infrastructure, and his campaign shot down the proposed climate debate and skipped MSNBC’s climate forum [Added 8/23, Expanded 9/6, 9/16]

Plagiarized fossil fuel groups’ language in his woefully inadequate climate crisis plan after his climate advisor made $1 million from one natural gas company alone. He then made uncomfortable physical contact with and rudely dismissed a young woman who asked him about this [Expanded 10/14]

Broke his own pledge to not accept fossil fuel money by attending a fundraiser hosted by his former advisor and current oil corporation co-founder/owner Andrew Goldman, and lied about it twice [Added 9/6, Clarified/Expanded 9/7, 10/14]

Voted to expand deportations and indefinite detention for immigrants multiple times and opposed amnesty for immigrants and supports requiring them to learn English

As VP his administration deported more people than any other in American history, deporting people at a higher rate than Trump’s administration even according to ICE themselves, and expanding the anti-immigrant system Trump now uses by 3,600%. He still refuses to answer for this and has gone as far as calling the police on immigration activists for passing out flyers [Expanded 7/9, 10/14]

As VP his administration built the inhumane concentration camps in which children separated from their families are still illegally caged, beginning the practice which Trump has now continued and resulting in the ongoing lawsuit claiming that ICE is violating the Flores Agreement by not providing basics like toothpaste and soap [Added 7/9]

Voted to build border walls and supported sending military to the border long before Trump

Voted to ban immigrants with HIV, locking Haitian refugees up in Guantanamo Bay

Spearheaded the Alliance for Prosperity which increased deportations, border militarization, privatization, and oil pipelines for American exploitation while worsening the refugee crisis

Architected Plan Colombia, internationalizing the War On Drugs resulting in mass death, displacement, and destruction of food crops, while opening the country to US business interests

Sides with Trump in backing right-wing coup in Venezuela

Voted to authorize invasion of the Netherlands if an American is tried for war crimes by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, refusal to participate in UN peacekeeping unless the US obtains immunity, and withdrawal of aid to countries that ratify ICC treaty

Supports Israel’s right-wing regime and apartheid in Palestine purely to protect US interests. A self-described Zionist, he blames Palestinians for multiple US-backed Israeli massacres, including an attack that killed 9 peace activists. Calls BDS “anti-semitic” and has a 100% rating from AIPAC [Expanded 7/4]

Recklessly threatens nuclear war with North Korea

Sided with banks to overturn Glass-Steagall and deregulate, leading to financial crisis, and has dishonestly tried to take credit for the formation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau despite actually helping strip state consumer protection [Expanded 10/18]

Defends billionaires hoarding wealth and promises to ensure it keeps happening at the expense of everyone else while voting to slash the top income tax rate and cripple the estate tax, resulting in $83 billion lost annually

Led the disastrous Bankruptcy Bill resulting in increased debt and specifically fought to make student loan debt more difficult to live with before dismissing the plight of Millennials who are now the most indebted generation ever [Expanded 8/26]

Lied about his own student debt multiple times, his own scholarship, and his own academic achievements, and has not proposed any plans to make public college tuition free or to abolish student debt [Added 8/26]

Voted against abolishing the electoral college that undemocratically elected Bush and Trump

Took $200,000 to help a Republican beat a Democrat to Congress despite being anti-abortion

Voted against enhancing labor protection enforcements

Voted for NAFTA, supports TPP, is generally to the right of Trump on trade, and argued against the prediction that China would become an economic competitor [Expanded 9/13]

Works with union-busters, voted to cut union pensions, continues to snub unions, and is generally bad for workers [Expanded 10/14]

Consistently sides with special interests and corporations against antitrust regulation and voted for the first antitrust exemption since 1922

Opposes net neutrality

Driving force behind the Patriot Act, supports warrantless wiretaps / mass surveillance while his son partially owns the Chinese government’s Islamophobic mass surveillance system [Edited 9/13]

Personally tried to prevent Ecuador from providing asylum for Edward Snowden

Says the CIA torture report is not a “black stain on this country” but a “badge of honor”

Worsened the opioid epidemic and made it harder to treat

Wants to make up reasons to jail anyone associated with a rave and literally bulldoze it down while his RAVE legislation lets kids die from preventable drug overdoses

Was the only senator to vote against expanding a child care tax credit [Added 7/29]

Has questionable electability based on receiving less than 0.22% in 3 previous Democratic primary elections. He has a history of insulting voters and is currently skipping major party events, hiding from the press, and holding only between a quarter and half as many public events as his rivals

Has questionable electability based on his infamous propensity for awkward “gaffes,” including many, many, many, many, many, many, many in this election cycle alone, to the point where he is literally unable to campaign [Added 8/9, Expanded 8/11, 8/13, 8/15, 8/23, 8/24, 9/2, 9/17, 10/14]

Plagiarized law school papers and campaign speeches (in which he lied about having coal miner roots), which ended his 1988 presidential run

His anti-progressive campaign surrogate Ed Rendell is a sexist, pro-fracking, pro-AIPAC Fox News supporter who approved bombing a black neighborhood in Philadelphia, killing 5 children and 6 adults [Added 6/26]

Used Charlottesville as a prop in his campaign video despite never even visiting once

Lied about getting shot down in Iraq and experiences in Afghanistan [Added 8/31]

Has no plan to reform the court system or counter its Republican takeover, has proposed re-nominating the failed Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, a nearly 70 year-old “moderate” who has opposed voting rights and human rights for Guantanamo detainees, and is fine with Kavanaugh remaining on the Supreme Court for life [Added 7/6, Expanded 9/16]

Is still openly courting Republican billionaires for donations, including John Catsimatidis, who’s compared taxing the wealthy to Nazi persecution of Jews

Endorsed by Alan Dershowitz, the millionaire Trump supporter accused of taking part in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex ring, after Biden’s son ensured a similar billionaire pedophile avoided prison after raping his own toddler

Voted to deregulate the credit card industry while a credit card company was his top donor from 1989–2000 and then hired his son

His administration awarded a $1.5 billion contract to his brother’s construction firm despite his brother having no prior residential construction experience

Has a long history of generally Trump-esque nepotism that he refuses to address [Added 10/14]

Broke his own pledge to take over 2x more money than Trump from lobbyists and special interests, including at least 13 billionaires, has the same general donor base as Trump, and very openly partakes in general corruption [Expanded 8/5, 8/11, 8/23, 10/14]

Flip-flopped on his initial opposition to using Super PACs and established one with military industrial complex and private healthcare lobbyists, even after admitting, “You shouldn’t accept any money from a Super PAC, because people can’t possibly trust you” just one year prior [Added 10/25]

His Senate chief of staff is now running Fox News’ lobbying operation [Added 10/14]

Hasn’t released any tax returns since 2015, which people seem to care about now [On 7/9 he released them to no media attention, revealing an $11 million increase in income in his first year out of office alone]

Seems to have found a loophole to avoid paying his interns [Added 7/12]

Unconvincingly co-opted Bernie’s education plan and slogan, and a Biden PAC plagiarized Kamala Harris’ slogan for its name

Despite his supposed frontrunner status he is a distant 5th in individual donors, raising questions of electability [Added 10/14]

“A lot of us sit around thinking up ways to vote conservative just so we don’t come out with a liberal rating. I’m really quite conservative…”

Meghan and the McCain family and Strom Thurmond have endorsed him, and Trump has donated to him

The worst part? He’s still not sorry for any of this (but wants a black man to apologize to him)

#bidrn #joe biden

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quakerjoe · 6 years ago

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JOE BIDEN:

TOP 5 HIGHLIGHTS:

Led the fight against desegregating schools

Voted for the disastrous Iraq War and still says he’d “do it again”

Wrote the racist Crime Bill that intentionally led to record-breaking mass incarceration, positioning himself to the right of even Reagan and Bush

Long history of creepily groping/sniffing/kissing women and young girlsjust so many times, even including intimidation and continuing even now after his non-apology

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL:

Racist comments like this and fondness towards if not impassioned support for so many of the worst racists and segregationists like this whom he chose to work with, as well as Republicans like George Bush, Dick Cheney, Mike Pence, and Jeb Bush

As part of his crusade against desegregating schools he was the only member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to block two black appointees to the Department of Justice

Lies about marching in the Civil Rights movement

Horrible treatment of Anita Hill during Clarence Thomas hearing

Supports cutting Social Security and Medicare and raising the retirement age on multiple occasions, backing Paul Ryan’s efforts to do so, while voting to gut welfare

Led the disastrous War on Drugs, and somehow still opposes cannabis legalization, yet two of his children escaped consequences for drug use

Pushed to expand death penalty, even to those on drug charges

Sided with banks to overturn Glass-Steagall and deregulate, leading to financial crisis

Led the disastrous Bankruptcy Bill resulting in increased debt and dismisses the plight of Millennials who are now the most indebted generation ever

Opposes Medicare for All, says he “doesn’t have time” to propose another healthcare plan, and wants to bring back penalizing those who can’t afford to pay for insurance [Expanded 7/6]

Opposed equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community until very recently

Supported NRA in passing massive anti-gun control legislation

Opposes meaningful action on the climate crisis like the Green New Deal, instead pursuing the “middle ground” while his campaign attacks publications for accurately reporting this. He’s rated D- by Greenpeace

Plagiarized fossil fuel groups’ language in his woefully inadequate climate crisis plan after his climate advisor made $1 million from one natural gas company alone

Voted to expand deportations and indefinite detention for immigrants multiple times, has opposed amnesty for immigrants and supports requiring them to learn English, and helped expand the system Trump now uses to commit human rights violations by 3,600%

Voted to build border walls and supported sending military to the border long before Trump

Voted to ban immigrants with HIV, locking Haitian refugees up in Guantanamo Bay

Spearheaded the Alliance for Prosperity which increased deportations, border militarization, privatization, and oil pipelines for American exploitation while worsening the refugee crisis

Architected Plan Colombia, internationalizing the War On Drugs resulting in mass death, displacement, and destruction of food crops, while opening the country to US business interests

Sides with Trump in backing right-wing coup in Venezuela

Recklessly threatens nuclear war with North Korea

Voted against abolishing the electoral college that undemocratically elected Bush and Trump

Took $200,000 to help a Republican beat a Democrat to Congressdespite being anti-abortion

Voted against enhancing labor protection enforcements

Voted for NAFTA, supports TPP, is generally to the right of Trump on trade

Works with union-busters and voted to cut union pensions and is generally bad for workers

Consistently sides with special interests and corporations against antitrust regulation and voted for the first antitrust exemption since 1922

Opposes net neutrality

Driving force behind the Patriot Act, supports warrantless wiretaps / mass surveillance while his son partially owns the Chinese government’s mass surveillance system

Personally tried to prevent Ecuador from providing asylum for Edward Snowden

Says the CIA torture report is not a “black stain on this country” but a “badge of honor”

Worsened the opioid epidemic and made it harder to treat

Wants to make up reasons to jail anyone associated with a rave and literally bulldoze it down while his RAVE legislation lets kids die from preventable drug overdoses

Plagiarized law school papers and campaign speeches (in which he lied about having coal miner roots), which ended his 1988 presidential run

Used Charlottesville as a prop in his campaign video despite never even visiting once

Is still openly courting Republican billionaires for donations, including John Catsimatidis, who’s compared taxing the wealthy to Nazi persecution of Jews

Voted to deregulate the credit card industry while a credit card company was his top donor from 1989–2000 and then hired his son

His administration awarded a $1.5 billion contract to his brother’s construction firm despite his brother having no prior residential construction experience

Funded by lobbyists and special interests, and very openly partakes in general corruption

Hasn’t released any tax returns since 2015, which people seem to care about now

Unconvincingly co-opted Bernie’s education plan and slogan, and a Biden PAC plagiarized Kamala Harris’ slogan for its name

“A lot of us sit around thinking up ways to vote conservative just so we don’t come out with a liberal rating. I’m really quite conservative…”

Meghan and the McCain family and Strom Thurmond have endorsed him, and Trump has donated to him

The worst part? He’s still not sorry for any of this (but wants a black man to apologize to him)

(READ MORE)

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